The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast (Saif & Faiza)

GIVEAWAY ALERT: Listen to the episode and answer 3 simple questions on the Google form - ​​https://forms.gle/T3dj6SN9fnEBiF1H9 and stand a chance to win access to virtual self-guided walks on the Wandr app (https://linktr.ee/wnderapp)

TRIGGER WARNING: Some ambient sounds are used to depict War sounds. 

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Tathagata Neogi, co-founder and CXO at Immersive Trails (https://www.immersivetrails.com) - a purpose-driven company that converts ethical, in-depth research into immersive experiences. 

Today's destination: Calcutta

Nearest Airport: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)

Nearest Railway Station: Howrah Railway Station (HWH)

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Pack light and carry extra water as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: Round the year on weekends, check the website for details

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We start off the walk by setting context around the period during world war 2, important events around the world and in Southeast Asia and how Calcutta became a vantage point for both sides. 
• The first pitstop of the trail is at the New Market area, one of the busy hubs for locals to shop for their daily needs, and how this area was bustling with activity even in the 1940s. Tathagata also speaks of the ongoing air raid drills and sirens and how people didn't take them seriously. 
• We also discuss the Bengal famine and the lack of preparedness and empathy shown by the British government, how this was triggered and some last remaining silos with connections to the famine. 
• We also discuss the role of the local politicians during the famine and their vested personal interests, protests by students and mill workers. Some important pit stops include the Calcutta Municipality headquarters, Victoria Memorial, Mango Lane, Grand Hotel, Metro cinema, and Statesman House among others. 
• We also discuss the cultural influence the American troops brought to Calcutta including Coca-cola, the movies and ice cream! Tathagata also mentions the Calcutta key, the pocket-sized guide provided by the troops on tips to navigate Calcutta including cultural nuances.                                                                       

Links:

Link to Immersive Trail’s social media: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immersivetrails/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/immersivetrails

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/company/immersivetrails

Link to website: 

https://www.immersivetrails.com/

Link to Wndr self-guided experiences app:

https://linktr.ee/wnderapp

Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Prasenjit Sharma, founder of Kamakhya walks and Six Degree Adventures!

Today's destination: Guwahati, Assam!

Nearest Airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, GAU

Nearest Railway Station: Guwahati Railway Station, GHY

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - N/A

Time of the year - October to March 

Length of the itinerary: 5-6 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Prasenjit kicks off the episode by giving us an overview of Guwahati and its strategic location as a gateway to the Northeast. The walk begins in the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati. 
• Kamakhya walks covers the spiritual trails in Assam, including but not limited to the iconic Kamakhya temple complex. The Kamakhya temple is believed to be one of the Shakti peeths in hinduism and is considered as a holy place for Hindus. It is believed that the reproductive organ of Sati, the wife of Shiva, landed here after the episode including her father’s yagnya. 
• Prasenjit provides us with a background of the story related to Sati, Shiva and Dakshya and how this place came to be such a significant place for Hindus. Kamakhya is also known as the center for Tantrik fertility worship, given the backstory. 
• We also review the pillars of Tantrik worship, its perceptions, as well as related practices. In addition to this, we also cover things like architecture, the concept of sacrifice, panchamakara offering in tantrik worship as well as the other significant temples in the Kamakhya complex. 
• We also discuss the festival of Ambubachi, the festival that celebrates the menstrual cycle of the goddess and its beliefs. The temple sees close to 500,000 devotees during this festival and is often referred to as the mini-kumbh. 
• The communities in the temple complex including the pandas or the priests, the mali community or the cleaning staff and the signers are discussed along with some commonly held perceptions. 
• Prasenjit also highlights the contribution of the Ahom kingdom to Assam, a kingdom that ruled the region for over 600 years and was never defeated by the Mughals in 17 attempts. We talk about the heroic Lachit Barphukan, his rise and achievements and how they are being identified by the National Defense Academy. 
• We discuss other important places in the vicinity including Uzan bazaar, flower markets, beautiful heritage buildings, Ugra Tara temple, Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, Mayang - the black magic capital, Umananda island - the smallest river island, Gurudwara in Dhubri, Paua Mecca mosque in Hajo, buddhist sites, Kaziranga and Manas national parks among other places. 
• The team also engages in arts and crafts tours covering bell metal, cane and bamboo, traditional jewellery, textile tours covering the popular muga silk in Sualkuchi, the gamcha or gamosa, makhela chador as well as the celebrations of Bihu
• Finally we discuss some exotic delicacies from Assam including rice and chicken powder, silkworm fry, ghost pepper or bhoot jhalokia, bamboo shoot and pork, sticky rice among other things. 

Links:

Kamakhya walks on  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamakhyawalks/

Kamakhya walks on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KamakhyaWalks/

Six Degree Adventures on Instagram  - https://www.instagram.com/sixdegreeadventures/

Prasenjit’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dreamweavers.journal/

Link to podcast on Majuli - https://open.spotify.com/episode/16TwAz8XY5luMwv3yYsO9r?si=1f6d842cc5264e5f

Link to website - https://www.sixdegreeadventures.com

Cover Photo by Suchitra Shots on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a returning guest, Ayush Kumar, a solo traveller and listener who takes us to the spiritual city of Udupi!

Today's destination: Udupi, Karnataka!

Nearest Airport: Mangalore International airport (IXE)

Nearest Railway Station: Udupi Railway Station (UD)

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Good walking shoes and rain gear, dress appropriately while visiting temples

Time of the year: Nov-Feb

Length of the itinerary: 3-6 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Returning guest Ayush Kumar covers a comprehensive itinerary of Udupi and the places of interest in the vicinity. The itinerary can be split across religious/spiritual places, culture, nature and food. 
• Ayush also covers the experience of travelling on the Green Route (Bangalore-Mangalore), covering the western ghats
• The places of interest covered during the podcast include
• Udupi Sri Krishna temple, its origins and significance
• Kanakana Kindi at the Sri Krishna temple complex
• Experience with the temple prasada and lunch
• Ananteshwara temple
• Varanga Jain Basadi
• Kamala shile cave temple 
• Brahmi Durga Parmeshwari temple 
• Pajaka 
• Local festivals including Bhoota kola, yakshagan and Kambala 
• Manipal and places of interest including the Hasta Shilpa museum, Manipal museum of Anatomy
• Popular beaches include Padukere beach, Kodi Bengera or Delta beach. 
• Treks around the western ghats, home ot Agumbe, the city with the second most rainfall
• Exploring the unique cuisine or the region

Links:

Link to Ayush’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soul.traveller.kumar/

Ayush’s other episodes on The Musafir Stories

Coonoor - https://spotify.link/r1Vd63sWaEb

Puri - https://spotify.link/UjpVQquWaEb

Bhubaneshwar - https://spotify.link/6G5zvXvWaEb

Photo by Alka Jha on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, Sahana Kulur from https://vacaywork.com/

Today's destination: Chikmagalur, Karnataka!!

Nearest Airport: Mangalore airport (IXE)

Nearest Railway Station: Kadur railway station (DRU)

Requirements: n/a

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters can be cool and monsoon 

Time of the year: October to February

Length of the itinerary: 5 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Sahana begins the conversation with the meaning of the town of Chikmagalur or “younger daughter’s town”, named after one of the paleygara or town cheif.
• The points of interest  include 
• Adventure activities including trekking to Mullayangiri peak, Baba Budangiri, Gaali kere, Kudremukha, Balladarayana durga, Ettinabhuja trek, Narsimha parvata
• Another option is to cut off from the busy town life  and opt for a cosy homestay and some self care. 
• Estate visits to plantations like coffee, tea, spices, arecanut, betel nut. Visiting in Jan-March will enhance the sensory elements. 
• Wildlife tours is another option like Bhadra wildlife sanctuary as well as the kudremukh reserve.  
• Temples such as Belur and Halebidu in the nearby Hassan district, lesser known ones in Javagal, Chikmagalur. 
• We also talk about the delicious cuisine of this region including fruits like jackfruit, vegetarian food like akki rotti, roast, steamed food,chutneys  and non-vegetarian food !
• Other places of interest/things to buy include Panchami kallu, Sringeri, river rafting in river Bhadra, Kyatanamakki hills, banana chips, coffee powder, spices, herbs and oils, haale toppi, or areca caps.

Links:

Link to Sahana’’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sahana.kulur

Link to blog post:

https://vacaywork.com/chikmagalur-travel-guide/

Link to website:

https://vacaywork.com/

Link to the Bijapur episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=oBL-7i0FRhKeg94MgkG5Ow

Link to the Madurai episode:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sfbo4CGkeJJImd1Acx5K1?si=8lb2biYOTcuyd5yIqCJ2Zw

Photo by Sachin S Nair on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a very dear listener - Amruta Dhalkar, a museologist and archivist, who takes us to a beautiful yet underrated part of Maharashtra! 

Today's destination: Sawantwadi, Maharashtra

Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport, GOI

Nearest Railway Station: Sawantwadi Railway Stn, SWV

Prerequisites: N/A

Packing:  Pack light and carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: September to February is the best time to visit

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• We start off our conversation with a quick peek into the history of the Sawantwadi royal family and the contribution of the women rulers of the region in maintaining its sovereignty. Amruta explains the strategic location of Sawantwadi and how it was a significant location in the ancient trade routes. 
• We begin by visiting the Sawantwadi Rajwada or the royal palace, its architectural structure, use of locally available colours and raw materials as well as the rich artifacts and interiors of the Sawantwadi palace. 
• Amruta talks about the Ganjifa art form and the origins of Ganjifa, how it came to India from Persia and was Indianized to adopt the Dashavathar form of playing cards and artistic box. 
• We visit the museum in the second wing of the palace, the paintings from the royal family as well as the beautiful interiors. 
• From the royal palace, we move towards the beautiful views of the Moti Talav and Narendra hills. Further down is the popular Ubha bazaar which is iconic for its wooden toys, lacquerware and handicrafts. The fruit plate or the fruit basket is especially popular among locals and visitors alike. 
• Moving away from the city, we start exploring the neighbouring towns and points of interest - the key amongst them being Pinguli village for Chitrakathi, Vetoba temple famous for offerings of kolhapuri chappals, beaches like Tarkarli, Devbagh, Nivati and Vengurla which is famous for beaches, dutch factory and Ganapati temple. 
• Also on the agenda are the popular forts in the vicinity including Nivati fort, Sindhudurg fort, Vijaydurg fort and its connection to Mercury!
• Another unique point of interest is the Dhamapur lake - a 400-year-old manmade reservoir that is a UNESCO-recognized world heritage irrigation structure. One of the earliest examples of a sustainable irrigation system in the world.                                                           
• We wrap up the conversation with an overview of the iconic Sawantwadi and Malvani cuisine, the popular mangoes and drinks like solkadhi!                                                                                                                                              

Links:

Link to Amruta’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amrutadhalkar/

Link to Amruta’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/amruta_dhalkar

Link to the Kolhapur episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=oBL-7i0FRhKeg94MgkG5Ow

Photo by Makarand Sawant on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Saloni Prasad, curator at the Surat Heritage Project as she talks about the story of Surat, through a fascinating heritage walk!

Today's destination: Surat

Nearest Airport: Surat International Airport (STV)

Nearest Railway Station: Surat Station (ST)

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Good walking shoes, carry extra water as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: Round the year, check Instagram for details

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We start off the walk by talking about the history and golden era of Surat - a port town on the banks of river Tapi or Tapti. Although Surat has existed for a long time, the documented history seems to suggest important structures being built around the 14th century. 
• The first stop of the walk is the Surat castle or Surat fort, indicating that Surat was once a walled city and is believed to have been built during the time of Gujarat Sultanate in the 16th century by a Turkish governor/general turned associate of the ruler, Khudavand Khan. The remaining structure is now a museum and has several interesting galleries, including a gallery of archives, textiles, pictures, and woodwork among others. 
• From the Surat fort, we move to Andrew’s library, built over 200 years ago during the British rule of the city and is a functional library. Close to the library is the CNI church or Anglican church, one of the oldest churches in the city built in the 1800s. 
• The banks of the river Tapi are in the vicinity and one can walk here to experience the ghats of Surat. We also speak of the first warehouse of the British in India that was built in this region, although the warehouse/factory doesn’t exist anymore but is a marker of an important landmark in Indian history. 
• We also talk briefly about the battle of Swally which is not too far away from here - one of the first battles between the Portuguese and the British forces fighting on the side of the Moguls. Another iconic event that perhaps does have long-lasting repercussions similar to the battle of Plassey. 
• We speak about the Ghanta ovara, custom house and mint house and how a day in the ancient port city would’ve looked like. 
• The next stop is the Mughalsarai, which is currently the office of the SMC or Surat Municipal Corporation. The original building was built as a travel lodge or musafir khana - primarily used as a hostel for pilgrims who would board ships to Mecca. This was built by Jahanara, the eldest daughter of Shah Jahan.  
• The final stop is the tomb of Khudavand Khan, the man who built the Surat Fort - we talk about his origins in Turkey, how he ended up in Surat and what one can see at the tomb. 
• We also discuss the unmissable local street food of Surat as well as the various communities that have made Surat so cosmopolitan. 
• We end the episode discussing some other interesting walks offered by the Surat Heritage project, including walks in Rander, Swally, Dumas, and British and Dutch cemeteries among others.                                                                    

Links:

Link to Surat Heritage Project’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/surat.heritage.project/

Link to Saloni’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/the.turquoise.ink

Link to website: 

https://www.suratheritage.com/

Photo by VD Photography on Unsplash

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Winners of the GIVEAWAY of Anmol’s book - Wanderings in the Land of Mist - A complete story of Mussoorie!  : Arjun Harish & Vijaya Bhat

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to founder of Kannur City Heritage Foundation, Muhammed Shihad as he takes us to Kannur!  

Today's destination: Kannur, Kerala

Nearest Airport: Kannur international airport (CNN)

Nearest Railway Station: Kannur Railway station, CAN

Packing: Pack light clothes for humid weather

Time of the year: Dec-Feb

Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Shihad talks about the history of Kannur, previously known as Canonore and its significance as a port city. 
• We talk about the Mapilla bay, the origin of its name and the various travellers who visited including Marco Polo, Fahien and Ibn Batuta
• We also discuss the St. Angelo fort, the history of all the three colonial powers who rule there and a recent discovery of cannonballs in the premises. 
• Shihad also talks about the St. John’s anglican church which is nearby and the rich archives it holds. 
• Our next stop is the Arakkal museum as we talk about the only muslim sultanate of kerala, their allies, the matrilineal system of succession they follow and much more. 
• Finally we chat about the mouthwatering cuisine of Kannur as well as the cultural festivities like Theyyam.  

Links:

Whatsapp: +91 8377024979

Email: mail@cityheritage.in

Link to website: www.cityheritage.in

Link to Kannur City Heritage’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/city_heritage/

Link to Shihad’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore_with_shihad/

Photo by s.hri on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Prasenjit Sharma from Six Degree Adventures as we explore Nagaland on foot!

Today's destination: Nagaland

Nearest Airport: Dimapur airport (DMU)

Nearest Railway Station: Dimapur Railway station (DMV)

Prerequisites -  Inner line permit, will be arranged by Six Degree Adventures

Packing - Good walking shoes, water to stay hydrated, warm clothing

Time of the year - Sept - Mar

Length of the itinerary: 8 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• In this unique episode focused on rural tourism, Prasenjit talks about the flagship Nagaland on foot tour that spans a series of villages in this jewel of North East India. 
• The trip focuses on exploring villages, ways of life, culture, traditions of each village and tribe, all while also enjoying the bountiful natural resources that the region is blessed with. 
• The trip begins in Dimapur where the group flies into, from here, the group sets off on the journey spanning 5-6 villages listed below
• Kiruphema village is the first pitstop, where the group spends the first evening, spending in bonding exercises and learning about their local hosts
• Khonoma is the next village on the itinerary and is one of the more populous villages - it is also known for the vicinity to the capital Kohima. It is also reknown as Asia’s first green village and the group gets to learn about the shifting cultivation practised by the villagers. The team also visits the tragopan wildlife sanctuary on the way to this village. The team also gets the opportunity to do a number of village walks, visit the Khonoma fort as well as learn more about the history of the region. We also discuss the concept of Morungs of the community center for the youth of the village. 
• The group’s next destination is Dzuleke - renown for its streams and rainbow trout. The group also gets to interact with the Angami and Zeling tribe while travelling through this region.  
• The group also covers other villages like Poilwa and Benreu. People do have the option to visit Kohima on request if there is interest. 
• There are also extended options of covering the Hornbill festival and the Dzuku valley trek during the month of December. 

Links:

Link to Six Degree Adventure’s website: https://www.sixdegreeadventures.com/

Link to Six Degree Adventure’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/sixdegreeadventures?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Other episodes on Nagaland:

Nagaland with Aakash Mehrotra - https://spotify.link/JPbQwGKoqDb

Headhunters of Nagaland with Ila Reddy - https://spotify.link/MRCGS5MoqDb

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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Winners of the Giveaway
Sudip Maji
Sanand Dekhane 
Litishka Jagdeo

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with slow traveller and host of the podcast - Postcards from Nowhere, Utsav Mamoria!

Today's destination: Kashmir!
 
Nearest Airport: Srinagar Airport (SXR)

Nearest Railway Station: Udhampur Railway Station (UHP)

Prerequisites -  Ensure to check for ground conditions before traveling

Packing - Pack warm clothes depending on time of the year

Time of the year - N/A

Length of the itinerary: 1month

Itinerary Highlights: 

Utsav starts off the episode by taking us to Arq-e-gulab, one of the last remaining rosewater makers of Kashmir and shares the state of the occupation and it’s origins
We also talk about Khanaqah-e-Moula, one of the oldest mosques in Kashmir - very unique for its wooden architecture as well as some stunning interiors made of papier mache.
Utsav’s next visit was to the carpet makers of Srinagar who make handmade carpets - again one of the last remaining generations of this traditional art form. 
Next stop is at Burzahom - an ancient archaeological site that has ruins that date back to 9000 years ago. There is also a very unique stone depiction of a hunting scene and its surprising connection to astronomy. We also talk about the sad state of the archaeological remains and the conflicting needs of the locals and preservation. 
We also cover some touristy spots like Aru valley and Betaab valley (of the movie Betaab fame, starring Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh). Utsav talks about his experience trekking to the Shesh Nag lake and his encounter with the hospitality of the native Gujar bakharwal shepherd community. We also discuss about the challenges this community and their occupation faces. 
We next talk about Utsav’s visit to the Ganesh Temple in Pehalgam also called the Mamleshwar temple and the story of Ganesh and Karthikeya circumnavigating the world. 
One of our final stops is a visit to the Kargil war memorial and Hunderman Museum of memories, talking about the village of Hunderman and how it exchanged hands between India and Pakistan during recent conflicts, and how the people’s lives have been impacted. 

Links:

Utsav’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42/ 
Utsav’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/utsavmamoria 
Link to Utsav’s podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/1wBEmLH3UjoMV0kbMgy5gy?si=LULYcnCYRdWvb5YwkiGBrQ 

Links to Utsav’s series on Kashmir:

The last rosewater maker of Srinagar
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7K2uTDPcq2X2C5gQkow503?si=JuSpdW09T_ePCVRZW_l5oQ 

The Art of Writing Time: Persian and Sanskrit Chronograms
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UebJ7ccoS9XTUQQuZ8HOl?si=Bby4cTN0RYesN5Mv0njVbA 

Gujar Bakarwals - The forgotten people of Kashmir
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mAxndubsMcu0zPf4VnhVS?si=LAPU62buTae83EuQyXMKdA 

Kargil, Hunderman and The Museum of Memories 
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mAxndubsMcu0zPf4VnhVS?si=LAPU62buTae83EuQyXMKdA 

Srinagar, ancient carvings and Supernovas
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wEMBgiBkYzeliXKvG5Ph7?si=6UrAITjNTiiPFUG3aEHqNQ 

Kashmiris, Hangul and the Manual of Life
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bzdllBWy48K1LieJgmTqq?si=Ndfx4nKdR3yF0LDMkHughA 

The Vanishing art of Kashmiri carpet weaving
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kTTQkdiS0LFhzdOwXRuAT?si=f1U0aDXIQnCyejPKMg6H2Q 

Sheshnag, deadly hikes and a thousand year old tradition
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OL8mp09s2FQdmS2Z5bHKB?si=q0deAcUgSnyikahLnQtY0Q 

Zbayul, the invisible village of Ladakh
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WZNprAo1ISgz2L2HE3HM1?si=4xM3YilSSxSq-DgLKuCyPg 

Cover Photo by Raisa Nastukova on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Ila Reddy, a returning guest and listener as she takes us to the ancient kingdoms of Newar. 

Today's destination: Nepal

Nearest Airport: Tribhuvan International Airport, KTM

Nearest Railway Station: N/A

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Pack according to the season

Time of the year:  September - Feb

Length of the itinerary: 9 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Ila takes us overseas as we discover the Newari capitals of Nepal - Patan, Bhaktapur along with other places like Panauti and Bharatpur! Historically, the Nepal valley and adjoining areas made up a confederation known as the Nepal Mandala. Until the 15th century, Bhaktapur was its capital, when two other capitals, Kathmandu and Lalitpur (Patan), were established. 
• The trip was done with the Community Homestay Network (CHN). The Community Homestay Network (CHN) is a social enterprise that supports a network of homestays run by local women and families across Nepal. Their homestay model provides hosts with an additional source of income and the opportunity to meet travelers from around the world, while travelers get a taste of the local way of life. 
• The best part is that 80% of the revenue goes directly to the community and is used for family and household expenses, education, personal development, community activities, and community development
• We begin the journey by flying into Kathmandu and making our way to Patan/Lalitpur, one of the ancient cities of the Newari kingdom. 
• The Durbar Square is one of the iconic locations of Patan that is made up of a number of temples and provides a view into the wonderful architecture of the region. 
• The prominent temples of Patan Durbar Square include:: Krishna Temple, Royal Palace Patan, Jagannarayan Temple, Keshav Narayan Temple, Char Naarayan Temple, Golden Temple and others. 
• On the east side of the square looms the impressive Ancient Royal Palace, which dates back to the late 1600s. With its red-brick walls, tiered rooftop pavilions and latticed window screens, the palace is a shining example of traditional Nepalese architecture.
• The next stop is the Golden Temple Also known as Kwa Bahal and Hiranyavarna Mahavihara, this Buddhist monastery takes its English name from the beautiful golden metalwork which adorns its façade. We also speak of the rich traditional food from Nepal - including local candy, thalis, daal and sabzi. 
• The next pitstop is Bharatpur - to experience the life of the Tharu community that lives around the Chitwan national park. Besides the rhinos and mustard fields, the experience is all about the time spent with the community, sampling their way of life, food and celebrations! 
• Ila makes a short trip back to Patan again, which they used as their base camp. In this leg, Ila covers the Paubha painting workshop which she was a part of. The painting is native to Nepal and is similar to the Tibetan Thangka paintings and involves detailing of Hindu mythological figures and deities and Mandalas. Paubha painting is treated as a form of meditation by its practitioners, and mastering the pattern of even a single leaf, wave, or cloud can take weeks.
• The next stop from Patan is Bhaktapur, another of the capitals of the Valley. Bhaktapur, the "City of Devotees," is also known for Newar traditions, food, and artisans, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal
• The Bhaktapur Durbar Square - is similar to the one in Patan, except that the temples are more massive. There are several smaller squares or chowks and the one with pottery shops was particularly beautiful. Like Patan, the area is best explored on foot and the local mitho doi (similar to Bengali mishti doi, or sweet curd) is a must-try!
• Ila moves to Panuati after spending time in Bhaktapur -  Panauti is a historical city in Nepal, originally it was a small state given by King Bhupatindra Malla as a dowry to his sister. 
• Ila explores a few temples, walked around the market and alleys, and even made a day trip to Namobuddha Monastery, located atop a hill and offering exceptional views of the snow peaks.
• The final stop is a quick return to Patan where Ila takes part in a Ranjana lippi workshop, the traditional script of the Newari people as well as a quick visit to Kathmandu to visit the Pashupatinath temple and a sound bath meditation!                                                                            

Links:

Link to Ila’s substack:

https://ilareddy.substack.com/

Link to blog posts: 

https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part1

https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part2

Link to Community Homestay network:

https://www.communityhomestay.com/

Link to Ila’s episode on Nagaland: 

Ep. 110: Headhunters of Nagaland with Ila Reddy The ...Applehttps://podcasts.apple.com › podcast › ep-110-headhu...

Photo by binaya_photography on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a slow traveller and returning guest, Tanisha Guin from @stepsandstreets on Instagram.

Today's destination: Raigad District, Maharashtra!

Nearest Airport: Pune International Airport (PNQ)

Nearest Railway Station: Mumbai CST, Pune Railway Station 

Prerequisites -  Ensure to check for ground conditions before traveling

Packing - Pack rain gear to be safe

Time of the year - Monsoons are a good time

Length of the itinerary: long weekend

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Tanisha kickoffs the journey by sharing her account of her visit to the Raigad District of Maharashtra. 
• We start the journey from Alibag, after taking the Ro-Ro service from Mumbai. Alibag has been a popular weekend destination historically. However, Tanisha decides to skip sightseeing for now and turns focus on the culture and heritage of the place. She also shares the root of the name and sheds light on an important community of the region, the Beni Israeli jews. 
• After spending a short time in Alibag, Tanisha heads towards Revdanda - the key points of interest being the Fort, beach, the Rameshwar temple - it has a unique architecture that is a mix of konkani architecture and islamic influences
• After Revdanada, the team moves to Korlai that has one of the only villages that has its own creole, also called as cristi or Kristi. There is also a hilltop fort that is popular. 
• Finally, the last stop is at Murud or Murud Janjira. The region is popular for the huge sea fort, but along with this they are very  popular as the home of the Siddis. 

Links:

Tanisha’s  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepsandstreets/

Tanisha’s  Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/guintanisha

Link to Tanisha’s podcast on Mirik - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Gvi0Maa19eJE3sth8zC5D

Link to Tanisha’s website - https://tanishaguin.com

Cover Photo by Girish Dalvi on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Krishan Insan, a traveller and clean energy professional as he takes us to this lesser known gem of the North East - Tripura!

Today's destination: Tripura

Nearest Airport: Agartala Airport (IXA)

Nearest Railway Station: Udaipur Tripura Train station (UDPU)

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - Good walking shoes for pandal hopping!

Time of the year - Durga Pujo (October)

Length of the itinerary: 5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• We start off the episode starting with the premise of Krishan’s trip, the geographical orientation as well as access to the third smallest  state in India.

• Krishan talks about the background of Durga Pujo, the 10 days of celebration, the significant Bengali influence as well as the variety of pandals that one could visit. The stops during the 5 day itinerary include

• Ujjainta palace and museum

• Heritage park

• Albert Ikka memorial

• Integrated Agartala checkpost (Bangladesh border)

• More pandal hopping in the evenings

• Bengali cuisine, sweets, and pushkas!

• Jampui hills, Betlingchip

• Tripura’s cleanest village, Vanghmun

• Unakoti

• Madarhaat

• Chabimura

• Neer mahal

• Celebrating dashami and pandal hopping

Links:

Link to Krishan’s instagram

https://www.instagram.com/insankg/

Link to Krishan’s Twitter:

https://twitter.com/InsanKG

Photo by PREYAS PATEL on Unsplash

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Giveaway - Fill out the form to stand a chance to win a copy of Clyde’s book - Susegad: The Goan Art of Contentment - https://forms.gle/qA9hg1qMibsKWyZv7

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to 3x author and podcaster, Clyde D’Souza as we talk about the concept of Susegad - the Goan art of Contentment!

Today's destination: Goa!

Nearest Airport: Goa International Airport (GOI)

Nearest Railway Station: Karmali Railway Station (KRMI)

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - N/A

Time of the year - Nov - Jan

Length of the itinerary: 1-2 weeks

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We kick off the conversation by discussing the root of the word susegad, its significance and its different connotations in Goa, both good and bad. 
• Clyde discusses his connection to Goa, his ancestral home at Colvale and years growing up visiting Candolim and the early memories. We also talk about the historical background and rulers of Goa and their influences, primarily the portuguese influence
• We talk more about the concept of Susegad, starting with the characteristics of Goan homes and the key features - the balcao, the red laterite exterior, the wells, the backyards, mother of pearl windows, azulejos tiles among other things. 
• Clyde also discusses the staple diet of Goans, right from poiee or breads to the xiit kodi or rice and curry, the Portuguese influences and much more. We talk about some of the popular dishes as well as some of the recipes that Clyde shares in his book. Besides the food, we also talk about mangoes and desserts which are an intrinsic part of the diet. 
• We also talk about the spirits and drinks of Goa - Feni and Urak and how they have been GI tagged and representing India around the world.
• Other topics include the celebrations and festivities and some of the unique festivals of Goa, the music of Goa and the different types of songs - from dekhnis to dulpods, fados to mandos and the popular artists. 

Links:

Clyde’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clydedsouzaauthor/

Link to Clyde’s book on audible and amazon - https://linktr.ee/clydedsouzaauthor

Link to Clyde’s podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3wuewIESKhHiMetJpK0GSv?si=8c99ef309ba94db8

Other episodes on Goa:

Islands of Goa with Stuti Bhadauria

TMS#031 : Riverside Goa with Kaushal Karkhanis

TMS#002: Road trip to Goa with Venkat Ganesh

Photo by Steve Rybka on Unsplash

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email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, Aditya Worah, a traveler and audio producer as he takes us to New Delhi

Today's destination: New Delhi!!

Nearest Airport: Indira Gandhi International airport (DEL)

Nearest Railway Station: New Delhi railway station (NDLS)

Requirements: n/a

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters can be cool and summers can be HOT! 

Time of the year: October to Nov

Length of the itinerary: 1 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

The walk begins at Lodhi Gardens, following which one moves through Delhi’s iconic Khan Market with its book stores and eateries, and then passes through the Judah Hyam Hall, North India’s only Synagogue. We then pass through an ‘Art Nukkad’, move across the Taj Hotel, and reach the corridors of power, where MPs, Judges, Civil Servants, and top names of the Armed forces reside. We now reach India Gate, and the Central Vista Zone, pass through a museum and an art gallery, walk across the Grand Masonic Lodge as we enter the commoner’s road from the King’s way, pass Jantar Mantar, a Mughal-era observatory, which is better-known these days for the protests around it. After a near-10,000-step walk, We finally reach Connaught Place, with its cinemas, shops, and eateries, truly the heart of Delhi. 

• Understanding ‘New Delhi’ 
• The cities of Delhi
• What, Where, is ‘New Delhi’ 
• Shift of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi
• Lodhi Gardens
• Khan Market
• Partition and History
• Bookstores
• Khushwant Singh, Sujan Singh Park and Sir Sobha Singh
• Judah Hyam Hall
• Street Art Nukkad and Delhi Street Art
• Corridor of Power 
• ‘Lutyens Delhi’ 
• LBS Memorial 
• 10 Janpath 
• AICC 
• VP’s Home

• India Gate 
• Central Vista
• Kingsway to Rajpath to Kartavya Path
• Janpath
• National Museum
• NGMA
• Jantar Mantar, Dissent and Dosa
• Kutty’s
• Kerala House
• Agrasen ki Baoli
• Connaught Place 
• Historic Overview
• Moving around CP
• Cinemas of CP
• In and around Regal
• Rivoli
• Plaza
• Odeon
• The Bollywood Mural
• Dhoomimal Art Gallery
• Food
• Conclusion

Correa and Stein - connecting CP and Lodhi - a note on the architecture in and around Lodhi Gardens and ‘Steinabad’, and on Charles Correa’s Jeevan Bharati building at CP. A walk that begins with one great architect and ends with another. 

Map Link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1yfha9m5qJXS4TdvYlseOyPZ0tBg0ULU&usp=sharing

Links:

Link to Aditya’s twitter: Worah | #WalkingInDelhi (@psychedelhic) / ...X · psychedelhic1.6K+ followers

Link to website: http://adityaworah.in/whois/

Link to the KBC  clip:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cpAYSw4c5s

Link to the Old Delhi episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/74UpUSZOB2qX9evCHx8NKV?si=5hd5ZQ-RQA6L_UvD-ARraA

Photo by Abhidev Vaishnav on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to a traveler and product manager, Anaya Vats, as she takes us to the princess of hills!

Today's destination: Kodaikanal!!

Nearest Airport: Madurai  International airport (IXM)

Nearest Railway Station: Kodaikanal railway station (KQN)

Requirements: n/a

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cool and summers can be HOT! 

Time of the year: June to Feb

Length of the itinerary: 7 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

Ananya covers some of the highlights from her trip to Kodaikanal, which started out as a weekend getaway but turned into a longer workcation. Some of the points of interest covered on the podcast include 

• Dolphin’s nose
• Waterfalls including - Silver cascade waterfall, Bear Shola waterfall, Liril waterfalls, Pambar waterfalls
• Lakes including Kodaikanal lake, Mannavanur lake, Kookal lake
• Poombrai village
• Pine forest
• Coaker’s walk
• Guna caves or Devil’s kitchen
• Pillar rocks
• View points
• Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
• Food - including Altaf’s cafe, Abby’s cafe, Mia’s treats, Astoria

Links:

Link to Ananya’s newsletter:

https://ananyavats.substack.com/

Link to Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ananya_vats?igsh=MXFmOXJ4NTFqcHpvaw==

Photo by Preethi RB on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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Giveaway alert! Follow @musafirstoriespodcast on Instagram and check out our stories for a chance to win!

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Girin Nayak, the founder of XOtoXO games as he takes us on a trip to the Chettinad region!

Today's destination: Chettinad region, Tamil Nadu!

Nearest Airport: Madurai Airport, IXM

Nearest Railway Station: Chettinad Railway Station, CTDN

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - Pack light clothes and sunscreen if travelling in summers

Time of the year - December to Feb 

Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Girin is the founder of XOtoXO games that brings stories from India to the world, one game at a time. 
• We cover the very popular but less explored region of Chettinad with Girin - Chettinad is a region in Tamil Nadu that covers over 90 villages and is the home of the prominent and enterprising Chettiyar community covering the Shivaganga and part of Pudukottai districts. 
• The Chettinad region is peppered with over a 11000 mansions built by the Chettiyar community between the mid 1800s to 1900s - these mansions were built by procuring materials from all over the world, thanks to the trading roots of the Chettiyar community who were seafaring merchants travelling all across Southeast Asia for trade. 
• We begin the journey in one of the main towns of the region - Kanadukathan, which serves as a good base, given its strategic location. Make sure to visit the popular mansions in the town - Chettinad Mansion, Vishalam by CGH group.
• Girin also describes the architectural features, and structure of these mansions along with the front yard, courtyard, rooms and kitchens along with open roofs. Other things to check out in Kanadukathan include the markets, temples and the abandoned airfield!
• The next stop on the itinerary is Karaikudi, one of the most developed towns in the region. The Aairam jannal veedu or 1000 window bungalow, The Bangala are two popular mansions in the region. There are also vibrant markets for textiles, souvenirs as well as antiques. 
• Another of the towns in the vicinity is Thirumayam - the popular attraction in the area is a fort known as Oomayan kottai or dumb man’s fort, named after the brother of a famous Tamil freedom fighter who was executed here. The most famous mansion here is Chidambaram Vilas. 
• Athangudi is the next town on the itinerary and also happens to be the protagonist of today’s episode, as it is also the source of inspiration for XOtoXO games’ first board game. Athangudi not only has beautiful mansions but is also popular for its handmade tiles that are made in small factories. Girin also explains what goes into the making of the tiles and how this has inspired his first board game.
• We also talk about important temples in the region including one where terracotta horses are offered to the deity. 
• Finally we discuss one of the more popular exports of the region - the Chettinad cuisine! 

Links:

XOtoXO games on  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xotoxogames/

XOtoXO games on  Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/xotoxogames/

XOtoXO games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077484262331

Link to website - https://www.xotoxo.com

Cover Photo by Nakkeeran Raveendran on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to museologist and archivist, Amruta Dhalkar as she takes around the district of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra!

Today's destination: Ratnagiri  district, Maharashtra!!
Nearest Airport: Kolhapur airport  (KLH)
Nearest Railway Station: Ratnagiri railway station, RN
Requirements: n/a
Packing: Pack depending on the weather, summers can be hot
Time of the year: Post monsoon or winter months
Length of the itinerary: 8-10 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Amruta takes us around her hometown/district of Ratnagiri. The journey is split into four cluster of places which can be easily bundled with other itineraries or transit stops while travelling between major cities. 
• The four clusters include 
• Dapoli, Khed, Mandangad
• Chiplun, Guhagad
• Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri town
• Rajapur, Lanja
• We also talk about the delicious cuisine of this region including alphonso or hapus mangoes, jackfruits, amboli, modak, fish, crab, misal pav, vadas and exotic vegetables and greens!

Links:

Link to Amruta’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amrutadhalkar/

Link to Amruta’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/amruta_dhalkar

Link to the Kolhapur episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=oBL-7i0FRhKeg94MgkG5Ow

Link to the Sawantwadi episode:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OjyGV4HqBPirul8EjlMr8?si=S5N-lwXTSJqDhgcLV6oZog

Photo by Jayesh Nikam on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, listener and traveller, Krishan Insan! 

Today's destination: Mizoram!

Nearest Airport: Aizawl airport, AJL

Nearest Railway Station: Bairabi Railway station, BHRB

Prerequisites:  Innerline permit - https://ilp.mizoram.gov.in/

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions

Time of the year: October - April

Length of the itinerary: 7 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Krishan starts off the conversation talking about the objective of the trip, to experience the famous Chapchar Kut festival in Aizawl, to trek the Blue mountain and visit the Castle of Beuno. 
• Detailed itinerary listed below: 
• Day 0: Arrived at Aizawl. Direct flights for Aizawl is available from Delhi/Calcutta/Guwahati Airports.
• Day 1: We reached the Parade Ground super early for Chapchar Kut Festival and enjoyed the entire Day there. In the evening we went to a Private ChapChar Kut Celebration which was a ticketed entry and spent the evening there and came back at midnight. 
• Day 2: We started for Sangau at 05:10. 
• The first stop was Aizawl City itself, Our next Stop was in Falkawn Village, The Traditions Mizo Village. We spent about 40 Minutes there. 
• Our next stop at Tropic of Cancer, which was after getting a few pictures clicked here, we moved and halted at Hmuifang Tourist Resort. 
• We halted again at the Tourist Lodge in Thenzwal at 10:30 and freshen up and moved further. Then we stopped at Tuirihiau Waterfall at 11:00. We trekked further and took a Indiginious Boat to Reach to Vantawng WaterFall Originating Point. Then we went to Thenzawl Golf Course and finally reached Sangau Tourist Lodge at 19:30. 
• Day 3: Started from Lodge at 05:30. We went upto Thaltlang Village (7KM from Sangau Tourist Lodge). Then we hired a 4X4 Bolero for travel upto Far Pak, 7KM (Forest Rest House) where the foothill starts. 
• The  Blue Mountain Trek. 
• We started Hiking from Far Pak Rest House at 07:20 and Reached at Blue Mountain at 09:35. We spend 45 Minutes there and started back at 10:15. Reached back to Far Pak at 12:15.
• Day 4: We started from Siaha Tourist Lodge for the Castle of Bawinu/Great Canyon of Mizoram. Then we moved to Palak Lake. We spent about an hour there and moved to Phura. Where we stayed Over Night inn Forest Guest House. 
• Day 5: We started our journey back to Langtlai. 
• Day 6: We visited Tuirum Li-Nghasih Lui and reached Aizawl at 20:30. We had Dinner in Aizawl Club. 
• Day 7: In the morning we started at 06:00 for Lalsavunga Park and then We went to Khawpawk Waterfall then we went to Local Market, where I would have preferred to spend more time. Then we moved to Airport See Off I fly to respective locations

Links:

Link to the Krishan’s website: https://www.krishanginsan.com/

Link to Krishan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insankg/

Link to Krishan’s  Linkedin: https://in.linkedin.com/in/insankg

Link to Krishan’s twitter: https://twitter.com/InsanKG

Krishan’s previous episode on Tripura: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/57TXGdaPPQCCuJAAtyZDfm?si=JSDsoBSTSZey6WnV9PsTVg

Photo by DigiLife Siaha on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Vishnu Menon, a traveller and a student of History, as he takes us to Old Delhi aka Shahjahanabad! 

Today's destination: Old Delhi!

Nearest Airport: Indira Gandhi International airport (DEL)

Nearest Railway Station: New Delhi  Railway station (NDLS)

Prerequisites -  NA

Packing - Good walking shoes, water to stay hydrated, umbrella, shades

Time of the year - Oct, Feb, Mar

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Vishnu starts by covering the history and background of the 7 cities of Delhi, and why it was so important over the years
• We focus our discussion on Shahjanabad or current day Old Delhi, Delhi 6. 
• 1. Lal Kot / Qila Rai Pithora - settled by the Tomars and the Rajputs, including Prithviraj Chauhan
• 2. Siri - In 1192, Mohammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj, and left the region to his slave and commander, Qutbuddin Aibak, who built the city of Siri, which was also used and consolidated by the Khilji dynasty. 
• 3. Tughlaqabad - 
• 4. Jahanpanah - Ghiyassudin Tughlaq’s impressive fort-city, which can still be visited, was cursed from the start, and his successor Mohammad bin Tughlaq fortified the walls of Qila Rai Pithora and Siri, and encapsulated them into a new city: Jahanpanah
• 5. Firozabad/ Feroz Shah Kotla - His successor, Feroz Shah Tughlaq, was the first to build a fort along the Yamuna, recognized as the fifth city of Delhi. Feroz Shah’s city was humongous by the standards of the day, extending from the Northern Ridge (where the other Ashokan Pillar stands) to Hauz Khas
• 6. Shergarh - Then, Sher Shah Suri, upon defeating Humayun in 1540, returned to Indrapat, a purportedly ancient village, and built his city, Shergarh, at the same site.
• 7. Dinpanah  - Humayun came to power in 1555, and added to that, building the Purana Qila as his city, Dinpanah.Shah Jahan’s great-grandfather, Humayun, too, had built a capital city there—Dinpanah, which later came to be called the Purana Qila or ‘Old Fort’. 
• 8. Shahjahanabad  - Shahjahan was the next Mughal to reign from Delhi, and gave it the most recent historical city,Shahjahanabad. Northward along the Yamuna, it had fourteen gates, and enjoyed the Golden Era of Mughal rule. It continued to serve as the Mughal capital until the end of the dynasty in 1857, in the decades before which it saw a brilliant cultural renaissance, a time of high etiquette, courtly graces and flourishing literary and music culture.
• We talk about the main structures around which Shahjahanabad is structured - Red Fort and Jama Masjid
• We also speak about the different developments that came up between and around these structures including Chandni Chowk, mosques, temples, markets, food streets, nature and much more. 

“Link to episode on Mangalore with Sampath Menon” - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vVloNSFG0deaMUzzSuhUk?si=ia9whfB6Q4ePm7ZgKt5F8Q 

Links:

Link to Vishnu’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charithra.sanchari/

Photo by Sergio Capuzzimati on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to a returning guest, Arjun Narayanan, as we talk about the popular Madras Music season aka Chennai Music festival aka December Music Season or Margazhi music season!

Today's destination: Madras aka Chennai!

Nearest Airport: Chennai International airport (MAA)

Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central Railway Station (MAS)

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - N/A

Time of the year - Nov - Jan

Length of the itinerary: 4-8 weeks 

Itinerary Highlights: 

• This week, we have a very special episode that talks all about the popular Madras Music Season - a city wide celebration of Indian classical performing arts covering carnatic music, dance (bharatanatyam) and drama. The episode is unique as it focuses on an event, a phenomenon, rather than an itinerary. 
• We start off talking about the significance of month of Margazhi, it’s importance in the Hindu religion as well as the history of the music festival starting in the early 1900s
• Arjun talks about the concept of Sabhas and kacheris as well as the popular sabhas in the city like Parthasarathy sabha, Brahma Gana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, Madras Music Academy, Mylapore Fine arts club, Triplicane fine arts society among others. 
• We also talk about the popular locations where the events are held - primarily T. Nagar, Triplicane, Mylapore, Adyar, the challenges in getting tickets and how to plan them as well as popular artists who are the crowd pullers 
• The events include carnatic music performances, bharatanatyam dance performances, drama and plays. The performances include both renowned artists as well as up and coming artists. In addition to the performances, there are also lecture series provided by experts. There are free concerts by up and coming artists (usually during the noon sessions), as well as ticketed events by more popular artists. 
• The instruments used in carnatic music include percussion instruments like mridangam, ghatam, violin, veena, mandolin etc. that are accompanied by vocalists. 
• We also discuss the popular sabha saapad or sabha canteens that are popular for their meals and filter coffee.
• Finally we wrap it with some places one can visit while covering the music season - these places include the popular temples in Triplicane like Parthasarthy temple, Wallajah mosque or big mosque of Triplicane, Kapaleshwar temple in Mylapore, Chepauk stadium and Chepauk palace, shopping for traditional jewellery and sarees among other things.

Links:

Arjun’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madraswallah/

Arjun’s Instagram - Simply Stories Chennai - https://www.instagram.com/simplystorieschennai/

Arjun’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/madraswallah

Madraswallah podcast - https://madraswallah.com/category/podcasts-2/

Episode on Varanasi - https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/varanasi-with-arjun-narayanan/

Episode on Thrissur - https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/thrissur-with-arjun-narayanan/

Cover Photo by Ricky Singh - https://unsplash.com/photos/rTikKt6ir5g

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Anuj Haribhakti, a long time listener and avid traveller as we speak about the only place in the world where Asiatic lions live, Gir National Park!

Today's destination: Gir National Park, Gujarat

Nearest Airport: Rajkot Airport (RAJ)

Nearest Railway Station: Junagadh Railway Station (JND)

Prerequisites -  Book for permits to safaris 2-3 months in advance and lodging.

Packing - According to the weather, sunscreen, hats, bug repellent

Time of the year - September - Feb

Length of the itinerary: 4-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Anuj talks about the USP of the Gir national park, home to the world’s only Asiatic lion population.

• We discuss how excessive hunting by the Royal families and British officers  and human movement had made this a critically endangered species in the early 1900s. We also discuss how the State government and other stakeholders have been able to turn the situation around in the early 2000s.

• Anuj discusses the importance of booking the safaris and lodging in advance (2-3 months before the trip) as well as the best times for sighting.

• Finally Anuj shares his experience sighting over 20 lions in his 4 days at the Gir National park. This ranges from fully grown males, to a young couple and mother and cubs. He also discusses the nearby Devaliya sanctuary where lions and leopards are kept in closed environment.

• We also touch upon places in the vicinity that one could include as a part of an extended itinerary - including Sasan Gir, Swaminath temple, Diu and Junagadh.

Link to Anuj’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/anujph/

Photo by Lenstravelier on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, Sahana Kulur from https://vacaywork.com

Today's destination: Madurai, Tamil Nadu!

Nearest Airport: Madurai International airport, IXM

Nearest Railway Station: Madurai Junction, MDU 

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions, summers can be hot.

Time of the year: October

Length of the itinerary: 2-4 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Sahana starts the episode  with some backstories about her travels to Sri Lanka, the inspiration for this trip - from a world famous architect, Geoffery Bawa to the coolest drink in South Inida - JigarThanda. 
• We cover the history and background of Madurai as well as the popular legends about the city and its main attraction, the Meenakshi temple. 
• The points of interest include a visit to 
• Meenakshi Amman temple - the most iconic structure and soul of Madurai 
• Koodal Azagar temple - an experience going to the rooftop of a temple and observing the gopurams up close. 
• Thepakkulam temple - the floating temple
• Tirumalai Nayak Palace - the palace of the Nayaka king and location of some very popular songs from Guru to Bombay. The palace has a museum and a sound and light show as well.
• Markets of Madurai including the Pudhu Mandapam, Banana market, Sungundi sarees, Madurai Malli or jasmine, the kumkum and the dasara golu or dolls
• The cuisine of Madurai includes the variety of idlis and dosas, ragi puttu, Kari dosa, idiyappam, keerai vada, mutton chukka, bun parota, jigar thanda, paruthi paal among others. 
• Other options include a visit to the archaeological site of Keeladi, Vellacheri doll village and a number of jain caves and rock sculptures
• We wrap up the discussion with other points of interest in the vicinity including Chettinad, Tanjavur, Chennai that one can plan for an extended itinerary. 

Links:

Link to the blog post: https://vacaywork.com/madurai-travel-blog/

Link to Sahana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sahana.kulur/

Link to Sahana’s website: https://vacaywork.com

Sahana’s previous episode on Bijapur: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sfbo4CGkeJJImd1Acx5K1?si=luN1sAtdSo63QvhK_fqTeg

Photo by Ben Chobot on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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GIVEAWAY of Pranav’s book - Expedition to an Alternate Swarajya - Where the subcontinent remained uncolonised! 

https://forms.gle/T72T2w72RMM4Hhye7 

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to author and content creator, Pranav Gogwekar as he takes us to the coastal town of Vengurla!

Today's destination: Vengurla, Maharashtra

Nearest Airport: Goa, Mopa (GOX)

Nearest Railway Station: Kudal Railway station, KUDL

Packing: Pack light clothes for humid weather

Time of the year: Dec-Feb

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Pranav starts the conversation with the history of Vengurla, the influence of the colonial powers - Portuguese, Dutch and British, as well as local rulers like Chattrapati Shivaji and the Sawants of Wadi. 
• We also talk about some historic milestones including the impact on the local economy and this being the target of Aurangazeb’s army. 
• We talk about some of the popular beaches - Sagareshwar, Vayangani, Mochemad, Nivti, Bhogwati ; the port, the two lighthouses of Vengurla, Crawford market, the mangroves, the burnt islands of Vengurla, Fruit research centre, temples of Vengurla and the vicinity including Rameshwar, Sateri, Vetoba, Manseshwar. 
• Pranav also talks about some must try foods, including seafood, amboi,ghavan,alni pav, usal and the cocktail. 

Links:

Link to Pranav’s book: Expedition to an Alternate Swarajya https://www.amazon.in/Expedition-Alternate-Swarajya-Subcontinent-Uncolonised/dp/B0CP3VCCWL

Link to Pranav’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pranavgogwekar/

Link to Pranav’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pravyavnav

Link to episode on Sawantwadi: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OjyGV4HqBPirul8EjlMr8?si=TEJwmDg1RryHH1RHZ9rRig

Link to episode on Kolhapur: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=xOvaVrSoS_2FHhWPw2rSWg

Link to episode on Goa roadtrip:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qVIaTJi9aVGkG306w94jW?si=5f0a9314ed764183

Photo by Krishna Savji on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ayush Kumar, solo traveller and photographer as he takes us to the hill town of Coonoor in Tamil Nadu!

Today's destination: Coonoor, Tamil Nadu

Nearest Airport: Coimbatore International Airport - CJB

Nearest Railway Station: Coonoor Railway Station (ONR)

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack warm clothes, depending on the time of the year

Time of the year - Summers (March to May) and winters (October to February) are ideal time to visit

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Ayush takes us to the quaint little hill town of Coonoor on the podcast today - we begin the journey on the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nilgiri Mountain Railway or popularly known as the toy train.

2. The train runs from Mettupalayam to Udhagamandalam or Ooty, making stops at several beautiful stations, including Coonoor. Make sure to book the tickets well in advance as the demand is very high during the tourist season! The toy train runs 3 times a day between Ooty and Mettupalayam, and is one of the steepest lines that is run on a narrow gauge rail line supported on a rack and pinion mechanism.

3. The journey takes about 5 hours, and is one of the few lines that still runs on a steam engine (for a part of the journey). Other stations in the journey include Runnymede, Ketti, Hillgrove, Lovedale and Wellington. The railway line has also been featured in a number of popular movies including the SRK/Mailaika song “Chaiyya Chaiyya” and Kamal Hasan/Sridevi starrer Sadma.

4. The Nilgiri biosphere is also an ecological hotspot that is teeming with wildlife and hundreds of species of flora and fauna. The western ghat formation is believed to be at least 150million years old, making this a significant part of the Indian subcontinent.

5. After enjoying the train ride, Ayush covers off the touristy places in Coonoor including Sim’s Park, Lamb’s Rock and Dolphin’s nose to get a view of the beautiful Catherine Waterfalls.

6. As you are visiting these spots, make sure to visit tea estates in the vicinity like Glen Morgan, Homedale, Glen Mark, Highfield tea estate, Guernsey Tea factory etc

7. Other places Ayush explores include Tiger Hills and the cemetery, Wellington, Kotagiri among some of the other places.

8. From a local cuisine perspective, make sure to check out Ramachandra restaurant (hotel) for some mouthwatering local dishes. Cafes include Cafe Diem, La Belle Vie, Bird house cafe, Crown bakery, Indian Bakery, Ayush shares his experience being stung by a honey bee as well as the trip to the nearby town of Wellington!

9. Wellington is popular as the HQ of the Madras Regiment and its famous alumni include Field Marshall KM Cariappa. The trip also includes a visit to the Defence college, Wellington Lake and the Wellington Station. Other points of interest in the vicinity include Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger reserve and Kotagiri.

Links:

Ayush’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soul.traveller.kumar/

Ayush’’s Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ayush.kumar.737448

Ayush’s previous episodes:

Bhubaneshwar - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3j9rNyQ9FUVrJJoSD4tcDP?si=6528696138dc4a01

Puri - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2qlot1VdxOHoUsQhxGYPTc?si=50710e9bb1c44d43

BBC Documentary on Indian Railways: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpoQO9ggzC4&list=PLwOyHkOUH9wKRF46cU7Pzxc4U1eE0RPst

The Musafir Stories on Audible:

Ooty - The Queen of Hills!

https://www.audible.in/pd/Ooty-The-Queen-of-Hills-Podcast/B09F1PLKF7?ref=a_pd_The-Mu_c0_lAsin_0_3&pf_rd_p=fb415642-61ca-48d1-82f5-1e0dcaa1f83f&pf_rd_r=JP0AVEWDCXJYSEJ7B0XK

Image Credit - Ayush Kumar

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to lawyer turned travel entrepreneur Paro from rawdiaries.in!

Today's destination: Gokarna, Karnataka

Nearest Airport: Goa International Airport - GOI

Nearest Railway Station: Gokarna Road Station (GOK)

Prerequisites - NA

Packing - Pack clothes for the beach, sunscreen, sunglasses and your flipflops

Time of the year - Oct to March

Length of the itinerary: 5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Paro starts with the origin story of Gokarna and the etymology of the name Gokarna which means cow’s ear. She discusses the importance of gods Ganesha and Shiva to Gokarna as well as the important temples for these deities.

2. We discuss the religious circuit of Gokarna which is also referred to as the Dakshin Kashi or Kashi of the south. The most important temples are around the Gokarna main beach. The Ganesha temple and Mahabaleshwar temple are the most important temples of the circuit.

3. The Ganapathi temple is dedicated to lord Ganesha in the standing form, and relates back to the story of how Ganesha takes the form of a young brahmin boy to trick Ravana in letting go of the Atmalinga which was awarded to Ravana for his penance. The deity is in the standing form and also has short legs that reflect the episode with Ravana

4. The other important temple is the Mahabaleshwar temple that is dedicated to Shiva, it is believed that the atmalinga was placed here by lord Ganesh, who had taken the form of a young boy. The deity is usually submerged in water and only surfaces fully every 40 years.

5. The third temple that is quite important is the Mallikarjuna temple, it is believed to be the only temple that is oval in shape and is a bit away from the Gokarna main beach. The architecture of the temple is really beautiful and offers one an opportunity to spend some time in solitude away from the crowds.

6. The other important temples are the Ram thirth, Jatayu thirth and the Shiva cave that have their own significance. The Ram thirth has a very unique architecture and is situated very close to the beach and offers some great views.

7. Moving over to the beach town of Gokarna, the best way to explore some of the prominent beaches is to do the 5 beach trek. It is best to start early in the day, preferably by 5am and takes about 5-6 hours to complete.

8. The first beach is the Belekan beach, a rocky beach then going to Paradise beach.

9. The third beach is the half moon beach that appears in a crescent shape from a height and has phytoplanktons that can be viewed at night.

10. The next beach is the Om beach which is popular with the locals and has a variety of water sports. The final beach is the kudle beach that also has some water sports as well as shacks and restaurants.

11. There are a couple of other beautiful and offbeat beaches including Nirvana beach and the Honey beach. One has to take a ferry to reach these beaches and hence they are not very crowded. Make sure to catch a sunset at kudle hilltop while in Gokarna

12. The other things one can indulge in includes cafe/shack hopping - important cafes include white elephant, Levis, half way home, mantra cafe, bhagwan cafe, Prema’s cafe, Lagoon.

13. Places in the vicinity include Murdeshwar temple town, Mirjan Fort, Yana caves, Vibhuti falls and Honnavar. These places are within about 100kms from Gokarna.

Links:

Raw Diaries on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawdiaries.in/

Raw Diaries on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSJD6yexHqBB-2VYMCnwMjg

Gokarna video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBCu62LFSMo&t=9s

Photo by Darshan Gajara on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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GIVEAWAY ALERT - LISTEN TO THE EPISODE AND ANSWER 3 SIMPLE QUESTIONS LINKED BELOW TO STAND A CHANCE TO WIN UDBHAV’S TRAVEL MEMOIR “A FOR PRAYAGRAJ - A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF ALLAHABAD”

https://forms.gle/nrqEkP9iQuzWtkpA8

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Udbhav Agarwal, a PHD candidate and author of the travel memoir - “A for Prayagraj: A short biography of Allahabad”

Today's destination: Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

Nearest Airport: Allahabad Airport, IXD

Nearest Railway Station: Prayagraj Junction, PRYJ

Prerequisites - NA

Packing - As needed

Time of the year - October - February

Length of the itinerary: 2-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

Udbhav takes us on a journey back in time as we talk about the city of Allahabad, now known as Prayagraj that has been the cradle of livelihood and is believed to be one of the longest inhabited cities along with Varanasi.

Udbhav talks about his connection to Allahabad and how he rediscovers his city over many journeys back to the place where he grew up.

We talk about the history of the city, erstwhile Prayag, that was set up on the bed of the river confluence of Ganga and Yamuna and inhabited by rishis and munis; how the big empires of the Mauryas and Guptas overlooked the city while setting up capitals in nearby regions and finally how the city comes back to prominence during the time of the Mughals, when it gets renamed to Ilahabas or Ilahabad.

Udbhav gives the listener a sense of the ganga-jamuni tehzeeb , a unique confluence of religion and people, and how festivals and events are shared by the community.

We also discuss the importance of the Kumbh Mela, its origins and some of the changes that Udbhav has experienced over time.

We touch upon the important personalities of Allahabad, right from the freedom movement to the erstwhile Prime Ministers, to the wide range of authors, diving into the literary landscape of the region and how it has changed over time.

Finally, we chatted about some of the popular food joints of Allahabad, right from the Chowk, to Khaogali to the Allahabadi paan. Enjoy!

Links:

Link to Udbhav’s book: https://www.amazon.in/PRAYAGRAJ-SHORT-BIOGRAPHY-ALLAHABAD/dp/9390652723

Link to Aleph’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlephBookCo

Link to Aleph’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alephbookco/

Photo by at infinity on Unsplash

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GIVEAWAY ALERT - LISTEN TO THE EPISODE AND ANSWER 3 SIMPLE QUESTIONS LINKED BELOW TO STAND A CHANCE TO WIN A HERITAGE WALK IN HYDERABAD WITH YUNUS!!!

Just fill out this form to enter the giveaway - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdkIvpPCtNpLO_Y3mmL_X6GjxrTXbPer_9UvRIHAC61hE5Rcg/viewform

WINNERS OF THE BOOK ‘A FOR PRAYAGRAJ’ BY UDBHAV AGARWAL, CONGRATULATIONS!!We will reach out to you shortly

TASNEEM AMIN

TANAY JOSHI

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Yunus Lasania - a journalist, heritage expert, curator of Hyderabad History Project on Instagram and Beyond Charminar Podcast

Today's destination: Heritage walk in the Old City of Hyderabad, Telangana

Nearest Airport: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, HYD

Nearest Railway Station: Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station, HYB

Prerequisites - Walking shoes!

Packing - As needed

Time of the year - Year-round!

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours

Itinerary Highlights:

Yunus starts the conversation by explaining the foundations of Hyderabad, the Qutub Shahi dynasty’s origins, how the city was built as an extension to the Golconda fort’s walled city by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, and how it was eventually destroyed by Aurangazeb in 1687.

After the defeat of the Qutub Shahis, the Golconda kingdom was ruled by the Asaf Jahis or Nizams, who were generals in Aurangazeb’s army, however they didn’t become independent till 1765 after which the city was developed further.

Charminar was the first structure to be built as a part of Hyderabad, named after the wife of the founder, Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah. We also discuss other legends and stories about the wife of the ruler - Bagmati, and the other names associated with Hyderabad.

The walk begins at the Badshahi Ashurkhana - a place of mourning for the Shia muslims who mourn the death of the Prophet’s grandson, Imam Husain in the battle of Karbala where he was killed with his followers. The Ashurkhana was built in 1593, 2 years after the construction of Charminar and is inspired by the Persian style of architecture with colourful walls and tiles.

The other monuments enroute to Charminar - the most iconic structure of Hyderabad, include, the Chaar Kamaan, the 4 gates which mark entrance/exit points to the old city, Gulzar Houz - the erstwhile drinking water fountain of Hyderabad, Madina masjid - the biggest mosque of the old city and markets around Charminar including Pathar gatti market and Laad Bazaar. The group also makes a quick stop for breakfast at Govind’s Dosa Bundi to feast on some cheese dosas early in the morning.

The final stop of the walk is of course, the magnificent Charminar - built in 1591, it is the most iconic structure of Hyderabad and is reflective of its rich culture and architecture. The building has several Persian and Indian influences including intricate artwork, 4 minars at almost 56m high built with yellow limestone.

We also discuss some of the other walks done by Yunus including one that covers the Nizam part of the city, including Chowmahalla palace, Nizam’s museum as well as alternate walks that takes one through the lesser-known buildings of the city.

We discuss the eateries of Hyderabad in general and the old city in particular, ranging from biryani to Irani chai. Yunus’ recommendations for Biryani include Grand Hotel, Shadaab, Nayaab, Biryani house, Bawarchi, Fanooz, Khan Miyan, Paradise, Alpha hotel.

Alpha hotel, Grand, Paradise, Cafe Bahaar, Nimra Cafe and Garden Cafe are popular options for Irani Chai!

We wrap up the episode by discussing the language of the region - Dakhani, its origins, influences and misconceptions. We also have some wonderful movie recommendations to get a taste of Hyderabad and Dakhani including Shyam Benegal’s Ankur, Mandi, Bolo Hau and The Angrez!

Links:

Link to Yunus’ blog: https://medium.com/@hyderabadhistoryproject

Link to Yunus’ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lasaniayunus

Link to Yunus’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thathyderabadiboy/

Link to Hyderabad History project’s IG page: https://www.instagram.com/thehyderabadhistoryproject/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/yunuslasania

Photo by Shiv Prasad on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Subhadip Mukherjee from www.indianvagabond.com as we explore India’s only China Town!

Today's destination: Kolkata, India

Nearest Airport: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Intl Airport, CCU

Nearest Railway Station: Kolkata Railway Station, KOAA

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack light, carry warm clothes as it can get bit chilly in winter

Time of the year - End of January

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Subhadip starts off by sharing some background on the Chinese community’s origins in India and Kolkata, the connection to sugar, leather, tanneries and more.

2. We start by covering the two distinct china towns in Kolkata, Tiretti bazaar or Old chinatown and Tangra or the new chinatown

3. Tiretti Bazaar is one of the earlier settlements of the Chinese community in India and is popular for the morning breakfast market as well as the Chinese temples that are in abundance in the region.

4. Tangra was set up initially as a industrial area for tanneries but was eventually turned into a hub of all the popular chinese restaurants in Kolkata

5. We discuss the new year celebrations in Kolkata, the popular lion and dragon dance that takes place during the celebrations as well as other popular festivals of the chinese community

6. Finally we touch upon other important places like prominent temples, cemeteries as well as the must visit restaurants in the area.

Links:

Link to the blog: https://indianvagabond.com/

Link to Subhadip’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/subhadipindia/

Link to Subhadip’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/subhadip.mukherjee.india

Link to the Subhadip’s twitter: https://twitter.com/subhadipindia

Link to Subhadip’s episode on Mysore - https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/a-weekend-in-mysuru-with-subhadip-mukherjee/

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email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Antarik Anwesan, a vlogger and Youtuber as we take you to India’s Little Lhasa - McLeod Ganj!

Today's destination: McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh!

Nearest Airport: DharamShala Airport, (DHM)

Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot (PTK)

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack warm clothes as well as rain gear!

Time of the year - March to June, Oct to December

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Antarik starts off by talking about the historic connection of McLeod Ganj to Tibet and why it is also known as Little Lhasa or mini Tibet. We speak of the Tibetan government in exile and the time when HH Dalai Lama escaped Chinese rule in Tibet to set up home in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.

• We begin talking about the places to cover in McLeod Ganj starting with the Tibetan quarters - Dalai Lama temple complex and his home. The Kalachakra temple and prayer hall is another prominent monument in town.

• Another scenic spot near the market area is the St. John in the Wilderness church that is a popular haunt of the tourists and locals and is renowned for its beautiful setting and neo-gothic architecture.

• We discuss the nearby villages of Dharamkot and Bhagsu Nag that form a great option for short trips from McLeod Ganj. Dharamkot is popular as the starting point for the Triund trek that gives you wonderful views of the Dhauladhar ranges.

• Bhagsu Nag is a beautiful village popular for the Bhagsu temple and waterfall. The other popular spot in the village is the Shiva cafe and the wonderful sights it offers. Naddi village is another closeby hamlet that is popular for its sunset views and the Dal lake. Another popular spot in the area is the Dharamshala cricket stadium that has stunning views of the Dhauladhar ranges.

• Gallu waterfall is another less explored gem that offers wonderful views and a quick dip.

• Going back to the Tibetan quarters, make sure to check out the Norbulingka Institute to explore Tibetan culture, tradition and art forms.

• The region also has some very interesting monasteries - Gyuto Monastery that offers an opportunity to meet and interact with the monks and observe the prayer sessions.

• Tsuglagkhang monastery complex and monastery is another prominent spot for checking out Tibetan art forms and ways of life of the Tibetan community in McLeod Ganj. There is a short hiking circuit called Kora circuit that has some great views of both the mountains and the monasteries. Tibetan institute of performing arts and Library of Tibetan archives are a couple other places that offer unique experiences for visitors.

• Wrapping up with the local eateries and cuisines, don’t forget to check out the popular places like Cafe Kalimpong for momos, Common Ground, Shiva cafe, Dudu falafel for middle eastern food. Cafes like moonshine, Raku’s place, Tibet kitchen, Norling, Chocolate log to name a few.

• Momos, thukpa, tibetan brown breads like tingmo, chole samosa, Bhagsu cake are some specialities of the region you should not miss out on.

• For shopping, there are several markets offering curios and trinkets from prayer flags to prayer wheels, souvenirs, thangka paintings, wooden carvings and carpets. Main market, Kotwali bazaar, jogibara road are some popular shopping haunts.

Links:

Antarik’s youtube:: https://www.youtube.com/c/AntarikAnwesan

Antarik on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamantarik/?hl=en

Antarik on Twitter: https://twitter.com/antarik

Cover Photo by Clasiqh - https://unsplash.com/@clasiqh

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Surya Raju who was the very first guest on the podcast when we started more than 5 years ago talking about her experience on the Kedarkantha Trek!

Today's destination: Kedarkantha, Uttarakhand!

Nearest Airport: Dehradun Airport (DED)

Nearest Railway Station: Dehradun Railway Station (DDN)

Prerequisites - Permit required

Packing - Pack trekking gear and warm clothes

Time of the year - December

Length of the itinerary: 6 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Surya talks about the USP of the trek, as well as the difficulty level and preparation required.

2. The railway head for the trek is Dehradun from where the trek company takes the team to Sankri, the starting point of the trek.

3. Sankri is a small village that serves as the base camp for a lot of treks including Harki Dun, Rupin pass along with Kedarkantha trek. It is situated at about 200kms from Dehradun and some buses ply to this little village.

4. The first day’s trek involves trekking for about 5 hours and camping at the Juda Ka Talaav - a high altitude alpine lake. This is the first pitstop and provides some wonderful views with the stunning alpine lake surrounded by trees and some dense forests. The stop is a great chance not just to rest and recoup from the first day’s trek but also acclimatise with the altitude and get to know your trekking group.

5. The next day’s trek is fairly easy and the team gains relatively less in terms of elevation. The destination of the second day’s trekking is the Kedarkantha base camp. The team not only rests here, but also prepares for the snow trek with microspikes to ensure grip.

6. The final day of trekking starts very early in the morning, as early as 1AM when the team sets off for the Kedarkantha peak. This is the most strenuous of days given that the team has to not only summit the peak but also return to the base camp at Sankri.

7. The trek involves an ascent in sub zero temperatures on very narrow ridges and severe conditions. However the views once you reach the summit are worth every bit. One gets a view of neighbouring Himalayan peaks including Nanda Ghunti, Swargarohini, Kalanag peak, Gangotri and Yamunotri ranges amongst others.

8. The descent involves taking the same route back to the Kedarkanta base camp followed by a descend to Sankri, usually through a different route.

Links:

Surya’s podcast: Travel Rope - You Inspire Me - https://open.spotify.com/show/7vkwapzVBv2adt3qCjcLzl

Surya’s blog - https://travelrope.com

Surya’s’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/travel_rope

Surya’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/travelrope/

Surya’s Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thetravelrope/

Surya’s episode on Sikkim with The Musafir Stories: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YI3FaVMG1QqCQOC6rdRr3

Image Credit - Photo by Vivek Sharma on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Tanisha Guin - a traveller who enjoys slow travelling to offbeat destinations and blogs at www.stepsandstreets.com

Today's destination: Mirik, West Bengal

Nearest Airport: Bagdogra Airport, IXB

Nearest Railway Station: Jalpaiguri Railway station, NJP

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack light, carry some warm clothes!

Time of the year - March - November

Length of the itinerary: 3-7 days

Itinerary Highlights:

Mirk is a hill station located in West Bengal, located close to the Nepal border and is popular for the local markets, monasteries, tea estates, orange orchards, monasteries and some warm local folk!

Tanisha and her family set out on a slow and laid-back trip to Mirik with the aim of absorbing the vibe and warmth of the border town, spending time with the locals, understanding history, flora, fauna, tea estates and much more.

The family decided to stay with a local family at their homestay to get the most out of the trip. The group starts its itinerary with a visit to the popular Sumendu lake or Mirik lake - a manmade lake built out of a marsh land and is one of the popular tourist spots of the town.

There are also several viewpoints as one approaches the town, given its strategic location and being situated at a height. The more popular viewpoints are Tingling view point, Simana viewpoint.

In addition to viewpoints there are several tea estates one can visit, the popular ones being Gopaldhara, Goldricks, Thurbo, Okayti, Signbulli among others.

Apart from the tea estates, the area is also popular for orange orchards, the most popular one being Pahilo gaon and Soureni. There are several hikes one can take, most of them unnamed and leading to neighbouring villages.

Once the group has had their fill of nature, many of the experiences being recommended by the homestay host, other options include visiting the nearby Bokar Monastery.

The colourful monastery, painted in bright red and filled with several paintings, referred to as the Thangka paintings is a blissful sight to behold. The monks are very friendly in nature and a visit during the early hours of the day or evenings, one can catch the daily prayers.

Another very popular activity among the tourists is a visit to the Mirik Bazar or Mirik market. The market is the commercial hub of Mirik and one can pick up a variety of things ranging from souvenirs, stoles, woollen clothes, bags, stoles, sweaters, tea, potteries and handicrafts.

Another popular market is right across the Nepalese market, Pashupatinagar market. The border crossing can be done on foot and Indian nationals only need a photo ID to cross over.

The homestay not only gives an authentic experience of the local sights and sounds but also provides a taste of local flavour and food. Make sure to try out the hot and spicy chillies while in Mirik!

Links:

Link to Tanisha’s blog post on Mirikt: https://traveltear.com/why-you-should-visit-offbeat-town-of-mirik-in-west-bengal/3163/

Link to Tanisha’s blog: https://stepsandstreets.com

Link to Tanisha’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepsandstreets/

Link to Tanisha’s facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stepsandstreets19/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/stepsandstreets

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Winner of Giveaway - Lords of the Deccan by Anirudh Kanisetti

Sarbani Mohapatra

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Akshita Bhanj Deo, Director of the Belgadia Palace - an 18th century Victorian era styled palace that is now a boutique hotel in Mayurbhanj, Odisha!

Today's destination: Mayurbhanj, Odisha

Nearest Airport: Dum Dum Airport, CCU; Biju Patnaik International airport, BBI

Nearest Railway Station: Baripada Railway Stn, BPO

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack light, carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day

Time of the year - Year round, except summers

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Akshita talks about the orientation of Mayurbhanj and Baripada and its close vicinity to both Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar and how one can get to Mayurbhanj.

2. We discuss the history of the Bhanja dynasty, written history of which dates back to 598 AD. The erstwhile capital of the Bhanja dynasty - Kiching, as well as Haripur and later Baripada. Akshita talks about the prominent rulers of the dynasty including His Highness Sriram Chandra Deo, the philosopher King and Maharani Sumitra Devi.

3. Mayurbhanj is known as the land of arts and culture due to its abundance of diversity in craft inspired by its local community. We hope you can come experience this beautiful land with the same sense of wonder and amazement as we do everyday.

4. The Belgadia palace was initially built as a place for foreign visitors, dignitaries and investors. It currently serves as the royal residence as well as a boutique heritage property.

5. We discuss the idea of Belgadia palace to be a platform for the community and to do so in a sustainable and effective way, supporting local artists and art forms.

6. The architecture of the Belgadia palace is also very unique with Greek and Roman influence. The interiors have been curated from previous palaces and include high ceilings, antique furniture, colourful rooms and suites, with wooden staircase, full-length arch windows, dark teak wood furniture, and chandeliers dangling from wooden ceilings.

7. A few visiting dignitaries have included Irish theosophist Dr. Annie Besant, the first Chief Minister of Odisha Harekrushna Mahatab, award winning Indian artist Hemendranath Mazumdar and the Royal family of Nepal among others.

8. Things to do in Mayurbhanj include The Simlipal National Park, Barehipani Falls, Sami Brukhya, Sitakund waterfall, Baldiha Dam, a visit to Sabai and Dokra handicraft villages Jagannath and Khiching Temple, events such as Rath Yatra (July), Chhau* Festival (April) (*a semi classical dance combining martials arts and folk dance)

9. The Mayurbhanj cuisine in the palaces featured a motley underdog sturdy Indian vegetables such as pumpkin, brinjal, potato and a wide variety of local gourds and their flowers, roots, stems and tubers.

10. One iconic dish that has trickled down to present day Orissa is a dish that originated in the royals kingdom—mudhi mansa. This dish provided a filling combination of carbs and protein and was used by kings to feed battle-weary soldiers in order to provide them with strength.

Links:

Link to the Belgadia Palace :https://thebelgadiapalace.com

Link to Akshita’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abhanjdeo/

Link to Akshita’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGreatAshB

Battle music: Sota War (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/sounds/258207/ ) by YleArkisto (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/ ) is licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ )

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to podcaster Keshave Chaturvedi as he takes us on a temple trail across North Karnataka!

Today's destination: Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal, Karnataka

Nearest Airport: Hubballi Airport - HBX

Nearest Railway Station: Badami Railway Station (BDM)

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack light clothes, as it is hot most of the year

Time of the year - Winter (November to Jan) and monsoons (June to Aug) are ideal time to visit

Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Kehsav takes us on a whirlwind tour across the Northern part of Karnataka on a temple trail. The pit stops include the Badami cave temples, Aihole and Pattadakal.

2. We start with Badami, discovering the rock cut cave temples built during the 4-5th century CE by the Badami Chalukyas as they established their political capital in Badami. The cave temples consist of 4 main caves - 3 Hindu and 1 Jain cave that have some finely sculpted temples. Keshav talks through the significance of each of these cave temples as well as subtle differences.

3. There is Cave 5, which is a relatively newer cave that is closer to the Agastya lake and Bhootnath temple and is unique for its representation of the deities

4. Besides the cave temples, Badami also has a mosque that was likely built during the Adil Shahi sultanate. The town is also a popular hot spot for bouldering among the local and international community.

5. Aihole was considered to be the cultural capital of the Chalukyas and is situated a few kms away from Badami.

6. It is considered to be the cradle of Indian temple architecture due to the sheer diversity and number of temples found here. There are over 100 temples in the main complex including Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples.

7. THe main temples include the Durga temple, Lad Khan temple, Gaudargudi temple and the Ravan Pahadi caves.

8. Other important temples include Ambigergudi temples complex, Jyotirlinga temples complex, Mallikarjuna temples complex, Ramalinga temples group, Veniyar shrines complex, Maddin temples group, Triyambakeshvara temples group, Kuntigudi complex.

9. Finally, Pattadakal came into prominence between the 7th and 8th century CE and was considered as the place of coronation of the Chalukya Kings. It is often referred to as a harmonious blend of architecture styles from North and South India.

10. The main temples include - Kadasiddheshwara temple (Nagara/North Indian style), Jambulingeshwara temple, Galaganatha Temple, Chandrashekhara Temple, Sangameshwara Temple (dravidian/vimana style), Kashi Vishwanatha Temple (rekhanagara), Virupaksha Temple (dravidian/vimana), Jain Narayana Temple

Links:

Keshav’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keshavchaturvedi9/

Keshav’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keshav.chaturvedi.37

Keshav’s podcast - https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/show/tedhe-medhe-raaste-8nsu-Rh7epsqeWjEL8yjl

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sagar Senapati from Travel Safar aur Hum as we explore the historical town of Aurangabad.

Today's destination: Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Nearest Airport: Aurangabad Airport (IXU)

Nearest Railway Station: Aurangabad Railway Station (AWB)

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack light

Time of the year - October to February

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Sagar starts off the journey by taking an overnight bus to Aurangabad from Mumbai. The historic town is at a distance of about 300kms from Mumbai.

2. Sagar spends the first day exploring the Ajanta caves. Along with Ellora, these cave temples are the first UNESCO world heritage site from India.

3. Ajanta caves are about 4 hours away from Aurangabad. The caves contain intricate sculptures and frescos and are an exemplary form of buddhist architecture. Ellora on the other hand is a mix of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain rock cut caves and temples, the most popular being the Kailashnath temple or Cave 16.

4. The next day’s itinerary starts off with the Grishneshwar temple, one of the 12 jyotirlings of Hinduism. The temple is believed to be almost 1000 years old. The temple was reconstructed after previous Mughal destruction by queen Ahilyabai Holkar

5. On the way from Ellora to Aurangabad, Sagar makes his next stop at the tomb of Aurangzeb, a very modest structure given he was one of the last powerful Mughal emperors.

6. From here, Sagar visits the Devagiri fort, believed to be one of the most impregnable forts in India. The other structures within the complex include Chand Minar, similar to the Qutub minar

7. The final destination on the itinerary is the Bibi ka Maqbara, a mausoleum built by Aurangzeb for his first wife, Dilras Banu Begum. The monument resembles the Taj Mahal but is on a much smaller scale. Make sure to enjoy a sunset at the maqbara to cap off your visit.

8. Other places close by include Aurangabad caves, Panchakki and Shivaji Maharaj Museum. Also dont forget to try out the paan at the popular outlet Tara paan center and Paithani sarees.

Links:

Sagar Senapati’s travel on Travel Safar Aur Hum -

Sagar’s Aurangabad trip - https://travelsafaraurhum.com/bibi-ka-maqbara-the-dakkhani-taj/ and

Exploring Ajanta& Ellora Caves - https://travelsafaraurhum.com/exploring-the-most-visited-unesco-world-heritage-site-ajanta-and-ellora-caves-along-with-aurangabad-city/

Sagar’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagar_senapati1/

Image Credit - Sagar Senapati (Travel Safar aur Hum)

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GIVEAWAY ALERT!

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE, ANSWER 3 SIMPLE QUESTIONS TO STAND A CHANCE TO WIN A TICKET TO AMRITA’S HERITAGE WALK IN NASHIK - https://forms.gle/xea2P2KFthjgbUPM7

WINNERS OF TALES OF HAZARIBAGH GIVEAWAY

Poonam Pragya

Yashaskar Shubham

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Amrita Gangatirkar, researcher, filmmaker and the founder of travel experience company Nashik Heritage Trails (formerly Urban Serai)

Today's destination: Old Nashik and Panchvati!

Nearest Airport: Gandhinagar Airport, Nashiki, ISK

Nearest Railway Station: Nasik Road Railway Station, NK

Prerequisites - NA

Packing - NA

Time of the year - All year round, except monsoons

Length of the itinerary: 3 hours

Itinerary Highlights:

Amrita takes us on a virtual walk around the heritage part of Nashik city - Panchavati and Old Nashik

Panchavati is the heritage part of Nashik that is home to some of the most sacred temples and old neighborhoods.

We start our walk with a visit to the Kalaram temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Ram. The temple and the deity are sculpted in black basalt stone, hence the name Kalaram. The temple also houses idols of Sita and Lakshman and is estimated to be built between the 7th-11th century originally and reconstructed during the 1780s. Nashik has a lot of influence from the Hindu epic of Ramayan, as is seen from the temples and the names of the neighborhoods.

The next stop is the Goraram temple, built in white marble and hence the name - Goraram or fair Ram, also believed to be built in the 1780s. The temple architecture resembles that of a wada (residence) and is very unique.

Another popular festival of Nashik is the Rangapanchami, celebrated a few days after holi, the festival of colors. The festival is very popular for the Rahad or the colored water pits!

Another popular temple in the locality is Kapaleshwar temple, close to the banks of the Godavari. It is unique for the mixed architecture and use of domes in the construction of the temple.

From here, we make a stop at the Godavari ghats and the popular kunds - Ramkund, Lakshman kund and Sitakund. The kunds are very significant as people perform final rites of their loved ones in these kunds. Another popular structure in this area is the Ahilya Devi Holkar bridge - learn more about the wonderful stories around this bridge.

Our final stop in Panchavati is the Naroshankar temple and it’s iconic Naroshankar bell, acquired during the battle at Vasai fort.

On the other side of the river is the Old city of Nashik that is popular for its markets and the wadas in the alleys. The popular markets include textile market (kaapadpet), Vessel market (bhaandi bazar), Jewellery market (Saraf bazar), steel market. One can spend hours in these markets and narrow alleys watching the beautiful wada architecture. We make some stops at local homes and discover the architecture of these old homes.

Our final stop of the walk is the Sarkar wada, now a government museum but that has been used as an administrative office, prison, a public library and a police station!

At the end of the walk, make sure to binge on some good old Nashik Misal, jalebis, fafdas, dhoklas (thanks to the gujarati influence), sabudana vada. One of the popular eateries in the locality is Sayantara!

Other options include the numerous forts in and around Nashik and the iconic wineries of Nashik! A great way to end your visit to Nashik with a visit to the wineries and vineyards

Links:

Link to Nashik Heritage Trails’ facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nashikheritagetrails/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashikheritagetrails

Women who speak Heritage Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7L3EXJBKfOskTSTOgP8RVO?si=5105790862f448dc

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GIVEAWAY Alert: Answer 3 questions linked below and stand a chance to win -

https://forms.gle/J2h6mmtLQV3vsMrE9

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a returning guest, Anirudh Kanisetti, as we discuss Ellora and his debut book, Lords of the Deccan!

Today's destination: Ellora, Maharashtra

Nearest Airport: Aurangabad Airport, IXU

Nearest Railway Station: Aurangabad Railway station, AWB

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack light, carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day

Time of the year - Year round, except summers

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Anirudh starts by explaining the orientation of the Deccan region, surrounded by the Vindhyas to the north, Western and eastern ghats to the west and east respectively and the Tamil country to the south.

2. Anirudh also talks about the historical significance of the palace, a brief history of the rulers over time as well as the natural history of the Deccan

3. We narrow down on the Ellora cave temples, a set of over a hundred cave temples that date back to the 7th century built by Buddhists, Hindus and Jain patrons. 34 of those temples are now open to the public and offer a view into the architectural and engineering brilliance of that time.

4. We discuss about the dominant Rashtrakuta empire who ruled the sub-continent during this time, were believed to be vassals/feudatories of the Chalukyan dynasty and had humble beginnings.

5. Anirudh speaks about the magnificent Cave 16 or Kailashnath temple, believed to be inspired by the Kailash mountain, the abode of Lord Shiva.

6. We speak about the backstory of how the temple is believed to have been constructed from a monolith and is the largest such structure during its time.

7. The temple was constructed by excavating 2 million cubic feet of basalt rock, probably formed during the cretaceous era which led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

8. Anirudh gives wonderful descriptions of the architecture of the temple, some prominent sculptures as well as the sheer engineering and architectural brilliance of the builders.

9. We cap off the episode by discussing other important temples of the complex, including Buddist and Jain caves/temples.

Links:

Link to Anirudh’s book, Lords of the Deccan :https://www.amazon.in/LORDS-DECCAN-Southern-Chalukyas-Cholas/dp/9391165052

Link to Anirudh’s podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3gyenNhpv2JIvu5nTccaFr

Link to Anirudh’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirbuddha/

Link to Anirudh’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/AKanisetti

Photo by Setu Chhaya on Unsplash

Battle music: Sota War (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/sounds/258207/ ) by YleArkisto (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/ ) is licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ )

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ajay Kamalakaran, a writer and traveller as we explore the beautiful town of Calicut or Kozhikode, in the Malabar region of Kerala!!!

Today's destination: Calicut or Kozhikode, Kerala

Nearest Airport: Calicut International Airport (CCJ)

Nearest Railway Station: Kozhikode Railway Station (CLT)

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack light

Time of the year - October to February

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Ajay sets off on our virtual trip to Calicut by speaking about the historical significance of the place, the influence of the Zamorins or Samoothris as well as the conquest of the colonial powers starting with the arrival of Vasco da Gama on the shores of Calicut.

2. Some of the first pit stops in the city include the famous Kuttichira, a heritage locality popular for some wonderful monuments like the Miskhal mosque and the Tali temple. Ajay discusses the history of the place, architecture, cultural influences of the Chinese as well as Arab merchants which forms a part of the popular culture.

3. We also discuss the popular eateries in Calicut, including the influence of the Arab and Gulf cuisine.

4. We talk about the busy SM Street and its specialities including Halwa and Banana chips.

5. Ajay then takes us to some of the prominent beaches including the Calicut beach and Kappad beach, where Vasco Da Gama first landed in India.

6. Ajay also shares the experience of walking about in SM Street area as well as watching a movie in an old single screen theatre - Radha talkies.

7. Ajay speaks of the popular personalities of Calicut including the former Defense Minister, VK Krishna Menon, PT Usha and author Vaikom Basheer as well as his hometown of Beypore and its shipbuilding industry.

8. We discuss short day trips that cna be done from Calicut - Kannur, Ponnani, Thalassery and other places nearby including Mahe.

9. Finally Ajay shares his experience interacting with the locals from different communities - including the oldest woman freedom fighter, Parsi community

Links:

Ajay Kamalakaran’s newsletter - https://ajaykamalakaran.substack.com

Ajay’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/AjayKamalakaran

Ajay’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajaykamalakaran/

Ajay’s episode on Sakhlin islands: https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/explore-sakhalin-island-with-ajay-kamalakaran/

Image Credit - Photo by Arun Geetha Viswanathan on Unsplash

Battle music: Sota War (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/sounds/258207/ ) by YleArkisto (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/ ) is licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ )

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a very dear listener - Amruta Dhalkar, a museologist, who takes us to a beautiful yet underrated city in Maharashtra!

Today's destination: Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Nearest Airport: Kolhapur Airport, KLH

Nearest Railway Station: Kolhapur Railway Stn, KOP

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack light, carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day

Time of the year - September to February is the best time to visit

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• We start off our conversation by a quick peek into the history of Kolhapur, the origin of its name originating from the Kolhasur demon, as well as the other popularly known names of Kolhapur in the past - Brahmagiri and Karvir.

• The city was ruled by various dynasties including Satvahanas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Shilharas and marathas.

• We also talk about the erstwhile links of Kolhapur to european countries as early as 1-2nd century CE

• We start off our exploration with the most iconic temple the Mahalaxmi temple or the Ambabai temple that is important to both Shaivites as well as Vaishnavites.

• Other important places include the Old Palace, which was the seat of Tara Rani Devi, wife of Chattrapati Raja ram, the second son of Chattrapati Shivaji. We briefly discuss the two lineages or gaddis of the Maratha empire - Satara and Kolhapur and the important personalities

• The next pitstop is the New Palace, designed by Major Mant and built during the time of Maharaj Rajarshi Shahu, it is built in a stunning Indo Saracenic architecture.. A part of the palace also serves as the royal family’s residence. Apart from this the palace also houses a museum, a lake, formerly a zoo, and Khasbaag - a wrestling stadium.

• We also discuss the contribution of Maharaj Rajarshi Shahu, who was as much a social reformer as a king. He was involved in encouraging Dr. BR Ambedkar in his movement as well as starting his newspaper - Mookanayak. He was also the first to introduce reservation for backward classes, as early as the 1900s. He was also a patron of artists and sportspersons, especially wrestling.

• The next point of interest are some museums starting off with Townhall, which has a variety of artefacts including some found from the 1st century CE on the banks of the Panchaganga river.

• Kolhapur has a significant contribution to the Maharashtra film industry and there are a number of museums dedicated to this and personalities from the field. This includes Chandrakant Mandare museum and Bhalji Pendharkar museum. Finally a unique lifestyle museum is the Kanheri Mutt museum that depicts life in a village 200 years ago.

• We then come to the most important part of the journey - food and shopping! Food of the region include Kolhapuri Misal, Mutton and chicken tamda rasa (mutton and chicken curry), kolhapuri bhel. Another unique offering of Kolhapur is the Doodh katta - a place where milk from the buffalo is provided as a nutritional drink.

• From a shopping perspective there are several options beyond the very popular kolhapuri chappal or jutis which have their own unique style (and a sound when you walk) along with the kolhapuri petha or headgear, kolhapuri saaj or jewellery.

• FInally, a couple of other options close to Kolhapur include the iconic Panhala fort, the beautiful temples of Adinath Jain temple and Kopeshwar temple and the beautiful water bodies of Kolhapur including Panchaganga river and its ghats, and of course the popular Rankala lake to cap off the journey!

Links:

Link to Amruta’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amrutadhalkar/

Link to Amruta’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/amruta_dhalkar

Photo by Bhupendra Singh on Unsplash

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WINNER OF GIVEAWAY FROM NASHIK EPISODE

RIKIN MERCHANT

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Akanksha Siwach, solo traveller, amateur gardener and a terrific storyteller who blogs at https://talesofthehiddentrails.wordpress.com

Today's destination: Glaw Lake, Arunachal Pradesh

Nearest Airport: Dibrugarh Airport, DIB

Nearest Railway Station: New Tinsukia Railway Station, NTSK

Prerequisites - Inner Line permit, Permit for the trek/camping

Packing - Pack light, good shoes/gumboots, rucksack, tent, sleeping bag and SALT - watch out for those leeches!

Time of the year - October - March

Length of the itinerary: 2 days

Itinerary Highlights:

Akansha takes us on a trek to the mystical Glaw lake in Arunachal Pradesh. Glaw lake is situated in the Wakro town of eastern Arunachal Pradesh, in the Lohit district - a sparsely populated region, still pristine with flora and fauna.

The lake is situated in the middle of Kamlang Tiger reserve, close to the Burmese and Tibetan border. The reserve is filled with thick forests full of exotic plants and animals - plantains, dry fruits like Chahal, oranges, elephant apple, butterflies, gibbons, the Great Indian hornbill, Himalayan monals among others.

Akanksha’s guide was a local student from Arunachal - Bethem, who helped navigate through this 7-8 hour trek (one way). Important pit stops include the forest hut, the suspension bridge over the Lohit River, trekker’s hut in Kalai among others.

Legend goes that Glaw lake welcomes anyone visiting the lake for the first time and is welcomed by showers, which was true in Akanksha’s case as well. Another legend goes that no one ever drowns at the Glaw (also no one swims at the Glaw!) and the lake never gets dirty!

The team arrives at the site of the lake just after noon, and spends time exploring around the lake. The team also meets up with a couple of local Miju Mishmi fishermen who help with breakfast the following day.

Akanksha and team also get a chance to share a meal with the fishermen and try out some of the local food. The views of the Glaw lake the following morning at sunrise are something to treasure - the mystical lake covered with mist and crystal-clear water as the first rays of the sun shine on the camping area. Akanksha also has a chance to go on a short boat ride on a raft made by the fishermen.

Miju Mishmi are one of the prominent tribes of the north east and are a very hardy people surviving on the resources from the mountains and forests. Akanksha shares some background about the tribe and their ways of life.

Akanksha also shares further details about places in the vicinity that one could visit, including Parashuram Kund, Walong, Namti plains, Golden pagoda and a few more places in the vicinity

Links:

Link to Akanksha’s blog: https://talesofthehiddentrails.wordpress.com

Link to the blogpost: https://talesofthehiddentrails.wordpress.com/2021/03/11/glaw-lake-the-secret-of-kamlang-that-youve-got-to-know/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akankshasiwach/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AkankshaSiwach

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akanksha.siwach.7

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to blogger and traveler Upasana Kakati from www.unconventionalandvivid.com!

Today's destination: Seven Lakes Trek, Arunachal Pradesh!

Nearest Airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Intl Airport - GAU

Nearest Railway Station: Naharlagun Railway Stn (NHLN)

Prerequisites - Inner line permit is required (https://itanagar.nic.in/service/inner-line-permitilp/)

Packing - Sleeping bags, odomos, hat, rain gear, gum boots, trekking gear, backpack, raincoat, down jacket, trekking pole (optional), waterproof clothing

Time of the year - Monsoons are the best time

Length of the itinerary: 8 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Upasana talks about the seven lakes trek in the Dibang valley in Arunachal Pradesh, one of the most pristine and beautiful treks in the country.

2. The trek lasts for at least 8 days and covers 7 alpine lakes, the highest one being located at a height of over 14,000 ft. done with Emudu trekkers.

3. Upasana does the trek in October, one of the nicer months to do this trek, however monsoons might be a great option to consider given the offbeat nature of this expedition.

4. The nearest village is Anini, where the group gathers and heads to the trailhead at Emuli village. Day 1 involves trekking through a grassland and camping at the base of the forests for about 4-5 hours.

5. It is best to have a hat, a walking stick and odomos as there are dam dims or insects in the grasslands that could cause itchy bites.

6. The first base camp is Aniku where the group spends the first night at. The next day, the team starts walking through the grasslands. It involves 4-6 hours of trekking, and is filled with the cacophony of insects and birds making loud sounds.

7. The second campsite is called Emudu camp site and has a beautiful logwood cabin in the middle of the rainforest.

8. The third day included trekking through the rain forest and ascending uphill to scale rocky mountains. It is one of the longest days of trekking along with some technical climbs accompanied by winds and rain.

9. The first lake - Kahmu-yu lake is accessed from this basecamp. The next campsite is after a fairly easy trek through the rolling hills, the 2nd lake Emuh-ya lake is next to the campsite. There are also wonderful views including waterfalls, streams and fog covered peaks that one can see from this campsite which is base for the next 3 days and serves as the basecamp to trek to the remaining 5 lakes.

10. The team fills up on tin fish, dal, rice, pickle, rotis, leafy vegetables and maggie for meals with the aim of ensuring enough nutrition for the treks. Sitting by the campfire and gazing at the night sky was another of the moments to remember.

11. The next day includes a trek to lake 3 (Koyombo lake) and lake 4 (Dinu lake). Dinu lake is the most gorgeous of all the lakes, situated at 14,000 ft, deep blue colored and sandwiched between two mountains.

12. After return to the camp and refreshing to have a go again the next day to the final three lakes, lake 5 (Che-ne lake), and lake 6 and 7 - Huhu I and Huhu II. This culminates in a very beautiful sight, Huhu I which is located at a higher altitude, flowing down to Huhu II, engulfed by mist all around.

13. The return journey retraces the initial trek, making stops at campsite 2 before heading back to Anini.

Links:

Upasana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unconventionalandvivid/

Upasana’s blog:: https://unconventionalandvivid.com

Blog post on the 7 lakes trek: https://unconventionalandvivid.com/guide-to-seven-lakes-trek-dibang-valley/

Upasana’s podcast: https://unconventionalandvivid.com/travel-podcast/

Emudu Trekkers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emudutrekkers/

Video series by Geetfreebird on the 7 lakes trek experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k93Ohent6Ts&list=PLZSzUvvwYwnducSpiBEW28wq_ronomF0Q

Cover Photo by Upasana Kakati

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Amol Wanjari, co-founder of Orange Odyssey - a tour company specialising in curating heritage experiences around Nagpur, Maharashtra!

Today's destination: Nagpur, Maharashtra

Nearest Airport: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport (NAG)

Nearest Railway Station: Nagpur Railway Station (NGP)

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack light

Time of the year - October to February, winters are ideal time to visit

Length of the itinerary: 3 hours

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Amol takes us on a guided heritage tour around the old city of Nagpur, uncovering the evolution of Nagpur.

2. The evolution takes us from the prehistoric time to the post-independence era, unravelling a layered history of Nagpur.

3. The first reference is of the stone circles at Junapani and Mahurjari that date back to the megalithic period. There are 300 such stone circles dating back to 3000 years ago and are believed to be burial sites of those periods.

4. There is also a copper inscription at Devri dating back to the 10th century, probably from the Rashtrakuta period that mentions Nagpur.

5. Then we discuss the Gond era, the Gond Fort, the foundation of Modern Nagpur, and the brief rule of Gods at Nagpur. There’s a bastion left from the early Gond period which we visit during the walk.

6. After that, we unfold the History of Maratha's rule at Nagpur by visiting the Kalyan Dwar, a gateway of the old Rajmahal or Mahal of Nagpurkar Bhonsles, their rule & development of the city. During this layer, we visit Gol Bazaar, Kotwali Police Station, Kelibag Temple Complex, and Bakabaicha Wada (Now DD Nagar School).

7. We then visit the site of the old palace to see the Town Hall & Native Library. We start here with the British rule & developments during the colonial period. After that, we visit Senior Bhonsla Palace, followed by the Rukmini temple complex. This temple is a masterpiece from the Bhonsle Rule.

8. We then come to Shukrawar Darwaja, which is known as Gandhi Gate now. We talk about history from the post-independence period, discussing the Nagpur pact & the renaming of the gate & lake after Gandhi.

9. As the walk ends here, we visit an old food establishment, to have Nagpuri breakfast of Tarri-Poha.

10. Post that we take an overview of the structures of Civil Lines, like the Central Museum, High Court & Zero Mile Stone. We also have an overview of Weavers of Mominpura.

Links:

Orange Odyssey’s website - https://www.orangeodyssey.com

Orange Odyssey’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/OrangeOdysseyIN

Orange Odyssey’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orangeodysseyindia/

Orange Odyssey’s Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/OrangeOdysseyIndia/

Image Credit - Amol Wanjari, Orange Odyssey

Battle music: Sota War (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/sounds/258207/ ) by YleArkisto (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/ ) is licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ )

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to traveller, entrepreneur and content creator Abhishek Vaid from the Untravel Show!

Today's destination: Ladakh, a Union Territory in India

Nearest Airport: Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport - IXL

Nearest Railway Station: Jammu Tawi Railway Station (JAT)

Prerequisites - Inner line permit may be required depending on your itinerary

Packing - Pack warm clothes, depending on the time of the year; medications for AMS

Time of the year - Winter (November to Jan) and monsoons (June to Aug) are ideal time to visit

Length of the itinerary: 8-10 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. Abhishek takes us on another untravel expedition, exploring Ladakh in his signature “untravel” style - soaking in experiences rather than checking off bucket lists. But first things first - acclimatisation in order to avoid AMS

2. He talks about his experience starting off in Leh - walking through lesser known bakers’ street trying out the local breads from Kashmir; meeting a young Ice hockey star who is also an art conservator during the day; meeting young entrepreneurs who are trying to revive local couture and cuisines.

3. Next stop is to a small village close to the capital Leh called Phyang! The idea was to spend time in a village that promotes decongestion of Leh via agri tourism. Abhishek spends time with the family, learning about their livelihoods, living the simple village life and exploring the local points of interest.

4. Some interesting local cuisine and dishes Abhishek tries include Thukpa (soupy noodles), momos or mokmoks, Chuttagi (soupy pasta), Yarkhandi Pulao (originating from China and brought to India through the silk route), Churpee (dried cheese based chips), Apricot jams, Changg (local beer) and much more.

5. Another stop on the untravel experience includes a visit to Nubra but looking at experiences beyond camel rides and ATV rides. The experience includes living in a luxury property called Kyagar

6. Follow the Untravel show on Youtube to see other experiences in Ladakh including Pangong Tso, Stok Village and more food experiences in Leh.

Links:

Untravel Show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.untravel.show/

Untravel Show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUntravelShow/

Untravel Show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/THEUNTRAVELSHOW

Untravel Ladakh Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL76-1IsJMwJLRB1UouRSi9RRfzW07HFAE

Untravel with Abhishek: Apply here - https://forms.gle/aFQaUf9DvP3vWfuWA

The Musafir Stories - Kartarpur Sahib with Abhishek Vaid: https://open.spotify.com/episode/58dGzqrVyeHhDv4adUlYKl?si=M6OxoIscTD2eTKn9HBwz_A

Photo by Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to the travel couple - Ranjani and Raghavan of rararaasta as we take you to the quaint little town of Bundi in Rajasthan!

Today's destination: Bundi, Rajasthan

Nearest Airport: Sanganer Airport, JAI

Nearest Railway Station: Kota Railway Stn, KOTA

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack light, carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day

Time of the year - November to February is the best time to visit; you could also visit in October for the Bundi festival

Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days

Itinerary Highlights:

1. We start the journey by describing the beautiful views that one drives past while approaching Bundi by road. Raghavan and Ranjani also remember being reminded of Hogwarts as they approach Bundi on their road trip

2. The couple start off by going around the town and the first place they check out is Krishnaji’s Chai - one of the best tea shops in Bundi. The rest of the day is spent walking around the town given that it was already late evening.

3. The team starts off the next day with a visit to the Taragarh fort and the Garh palace or the Bundi palace. It is advisable to visit the fort first while the temperatures are still low.

4. Some of the monuments the couple find at the Bundi palace includes Hathi pol, Chatar Mahal, Badal mahal, Chitrashala, Jhoola chowk among others. One can find the very popular Bundi miniature paintings as well as a wholesome fill of Rajasthani architecture on display at the fort and palace.

5. The duo then enjoy some home cooked meals at Jai’s with the likes of Gatte ki subzee and Dal batti choorma. Other popular food options include pyaas ki kachori, dal ki kachori as well as poha.

6. Next the couple head to the potter’s village of Theekarda, from where a majority of the pots and cutlery to the neighboring villages and cities is produced.

7. The next day’s agenda included a visit to the popular stepwells of Bundi - some of them include Rani ji ki Baori, Dabhai kund or Dabhoji ki baori. Some popular lakes include Naval sagar lake, Kanak sagar lake, Phool sagar lake.

8. Another popular palace is the Sukh Mahal that was made famous by author Rudyard Kipling of Jungle book fame who penned his novel “Kim” while staying in this palace.

9. Also popular in Bundi are cenotaphs built for the Maharajas - the popular ones being Kshar bagh and 84 pillared cenotaph which gives a good sample of the chattri architecture of Rajasthan.

10. Things to buy include the popular Kota Doria sarees, a dying work of art that goes back to several centuries. One should also check out the Bundi market to pick up some curios, trinkets, bangles and souvenirs. Dont miss checking out the miniature paintings all across the streets of Bundi.

11. There are also rock paintings dating back to over 10,000 years ago as well as the Garodia Mahadev temple and canyon.

Links:

Link to Rararaasta’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rararaasta/

Link to Rararaasta’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rararaasta/

Link to the blog: https://www.rararaasta.com

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

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GIVEAWAY ALERT! 

Stand a chance to win Nomads of India merchandise - follow our stories on Instagram for more details!

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Vatsal Nandu, a traveller and founder of travel community Nomads of India as he takes us to the breathtaking Zanskar and Suru Valley!

Today's destination: Zanskar and Suru Valley, Ladakh!

Nearest Airport: Srinagar International airport (SXR)

Nearest Railway Station: Jammu Railway Station (JAT)

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Good walking shoes, camping gear if needed, AMS medication, warm clothes

Time of the year: May-Oct

Length of the itinerary: 12 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Vatsal shares his experience travelling and hitchhiking across the Zanskar and Suru valley.
• The journey starts off at Kargil and Vatsal boards a bus to Sanku. Here he explores Kartse Khar ruins and the Maitreya Buddha Statue. He also makes a trip to Parkachik and Panikhar to get a view of the Nun Kun peaks. This covers the Suru valley leg of the journey. Other options include Rangdum monastery, Drang Drung glacier 
• Next stop is Padum, which is the administrative capital of Zanskar. From here, Vatsal makes trips to Purney and treks to Phugtal monastery, Gonbo Rongjon, Stongdae Monastery, Karsha Monastery, Zangla palace and Shilla waterfall and Sani lake and monastery. This covers the Zanskar leg of the itinerary. 
• Vatsal also talks about the hospitality of the locals, some options for food and boarding as well as challenges and adventures of travelling solo. 

Links:

Link to NOI’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomadsofindia/

Link to NOI’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nomadsofindia

Link to the website: https://nomadsofindia.com/

Link to the blog post: https://nomadsofindia.com/travel-guides/zanskar-valley-ultimate-travel-guide/

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to our favorite listener and traveler, Tushar Shukla! 

Today's destination: Indore & Ujjain, MP!

Nearest Airport: Devi Ahilya Bai airport, IDR

Nearest Railway Station: Ujjain Junction, UJJN

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions

Time of the year: October - Mar

Length of the itinerary: 3 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Tushar starts the conversation outlining the objective of the solo trip along with the points/themes of interest in both the places
• Points of interest covered - Indore:
• Khajrana Ganeshji temple 
• Chappan Dukaan 
• Gandhi Hall
• Lalbagh palace 
• Rajwada palace
• Kaanch Mahal

• Points of interest covered - Ujjain
• Mahakaal
• Harsiddhi Mata temple
• Chawkhamba
• Kaal Bhairav temple 
• Shipra river 
• Evening Aarti at Ram ghat 

• Other places in the vicinity
• Omkareshwar
• Bada Talaav
• Indira Gandhi tribal art museum

Links:

Link to the Thushar’s  blog: https://medium.com/@humanprojector83

Link to Tushar’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paneldaze/

Link to Tushar’s twitter: https://twitter.com/humanprojector

Link to the blogpost: https://medium.com/@humanprojector83/the-case-of-the-missing-newspaper-a-3-day-trip-to-indore-ujjain-e6b627c9da0d

Photo by Meet Gada on Unsplash

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Winner of Giveaway of Pranav’s book - Kunal Sachdev

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to author and content creator, Aakash Mehrotra as he takes us to his hometown of Allahabad of the yesteryears, now known as Prayagraj!

Today's destination: Allahabad, UP!

Nearest Airport: Prayagraj Airport (IXD)

Nearest Railway Station: Prayagraj Railway station, PRYJ

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cold and summers are hot and humid!

Time of the year: Feb-Mar, or during the Kumbh if you have a chance!

Length of the itinerary: 4-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Aakash covers a short history and mythological significance of Allahabad, formerly known as Prayag and currently known as Prayagraj, the home to the confluence of the 3 rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.

• We also cover other influences on the city including the Mughal period and the origin of the Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb as well as the British period and the strategic location of the city.

• Important places to visit include the sangam, Allahabad fort, Civil lines and the british architecture, Khusro Bagh, Anand Bhavan, Swaraj Bhavan, Azad park, State Museum, Minto park, Allahabad University, All Saints Cathedral, Alopi devi temple, Kalbhairav temple, Lete Hanuman temple, Nag Vasuki temple, Jhusi fort of Chaupat Raja, Shankar Viman temple, Muni Bharadwaj’s ashram.

• We also touch upon the literary connection of Allahabad including the Allahabad university and some of the popular hindi writers and poets including Sumitranandan Pant, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Harivanshrai Bachchan, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Kailash Gautam, Yash Malviya, Mahadevi Varma, Akbar Allahabadi to name a few.

• We also visit some of the important cuisines and foods one should try while in Allahabad including chaat like khasta and dum aloo, poor ke samosa, aaloo samosa, gajak, kali gajar ka halwa, malai makkhan, til ka laddoo, mughlai dishes, dahi jalebi, amrood, kandmool.

Links:

Link to Aakash’s book: The Other Guy - https://www.amazon.in/Other-Guy-Aakash-Mehrotra/dp/9352017609

Link to Aakahs’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aakashmehrotra/

Link to Aakash’s blog: https://handofcolors.in/

Link to episode on Nagaland: https://open.spotify.com/episode/26TT57iSuUu5iGXGjOCtPL?si=1qLlPkemRJ2eOA17I7Bx2Q

Link to episode on Landour: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jyTU9Q4fQK8AIkB0mBqbM?si=VhOwfvL-T8-XiLjg7IuneQ

Link to episode on Pragpur and Garli:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3PRTJBAwq50iebqS7L5XYM?si=b-d-sjX8Ttasum8lBQhHCA

Photo by Shubhanshu Prajapati on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a very dear listener - Geo Sebastian, a rural development professional who takes us to the quaint town of Diu

Today's destination: Diu, Union territory 

 Nearest Airport: Diu Airport, DIU

Nearest Railway Station: Veraval Railway Stn, VRL

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Pack light and carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: October to February is the best time to visit

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We start off by locating Diu on the map, a union territory on the western coast of India close to Gujarat. Diu is a part of the Daman, Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli - one of the union territories in India. 
• Geo also talks about the historical context and significance of Geo, the history with the Mauryas, Chavdas, Mughals and Portuguese. The Portuguese ruled Diu for over 400 years and established Diu as one of the strongholds of its operations in India. We also discuss the iconic battle of Diu and the siege of Diu fort that established the Portuguese as the undisputed rulers of the Diu. 
• Diu is popular for its beaches given its strategic location and also offers a welcome destination to crowds from Gujarat who seek to get away from the dry state. 
• Important beaches in Diu include 
• Nagoa beach: most popular and commercial, adventure activities like parasailing, speed boats, water-ski; Hokka trees; close to hotels 
• Ghoghla Beach: watersports, dolphins
• Jallandhar Beach: Jallandhar shrine - a demon slain by Krishna, On a hillock stood the shrine of Jallandhar, a water demon slayed by Vishnu’s discus, lending its name to the Chakratirth beach
• Chakratirth Beach: more like a lagoon, watch tower
• Gomatimata Beach: western most corner, gulls, birdwatching
•  Besides the beach, one should also make a visit to the Diu fort and learn about the history of this iconic fort, including the battle of Diu. While here, don’t forget to check out the massive Paanikotha fort that served as a first line of defence. 
• There are also important churches, temples and Parsi places of worship  in Diu with notable mentions for St. Thomas Church, St. Paul’s church, Gangeshwar temple, Tower of slience of the Parsis
• Other places of interest include the Naida caves - natural rock formations; old city, Zampa gateway, Fudam bird sanctuary
•  We also spend some time discussing some popularly available foods of the region including Farsan and seafood.                                                                       

Links:

Link to Geo’s Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/asocialscientist/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/khanabadoshtraveliving/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/in/geo-sebastian-52542011/?originalSubdomain=in

Photo by Jenish Patel on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a award winning travel writer Varun Suchday as he talks about time spent with the Tribes of Chhattisgarh and Odisha

Today's destination: Chhattisgarh and Odisha!

Nearest Airport: Maa Danteshwari Airport, Jagdalpur (JGB)

Nearest Railway Station: Jagdalpur Train Station (JDB)

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions

Time of the year: Oct-Feb

Length of the itinerary: 7 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Varun takes us on a one of a kind journey to the hinterland of tribal India as he shares his experience spending time with the tribes of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. 
• Varun spent a month living and interacting with tribes such as Muriaa, Maria, Halba, Gond, Dhurva,, Praja and Bonda. 
• The topics  covered during the episode include
• Cultural and religious practices
• Concept of Dowry in some tribes, hunting and eating practices, forest to table way of life
• Guru maayis and the dying form of travelling songs 
• Haats or tribal markets, things bought and sold in such markets
• Festivals of the tribes 
• Ant chutney and local brews like Salfi
• Cock fights and controversies
• Places of interest - Jagdalpur, Bastar, Kanger valley national park, Chitrakoot falls, Thirathgarh falls, Dholkal trek, Kotpad, Koraput, Deomali Hills, Bonda Ghati, Dantewada. 

Links:

Link to Varun’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdworldstoryteller/

Link to Varun’s blog: www.windsoftravel.com

Link to Varun’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WindsofTravel

Photo by AMIT MAHATO on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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WINNERS OF THE GIVEAWAY (NAMMA BANGALORE), pls check your email for further instructions. 

Tanushree Tyagi

Vijay Prakash 

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, Saakshi Rajat - a traveller and co-founder at True Joy Travels, as she takes us to Goa with seniors!∂

Today's destination: Goa!!

Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport, GOI

Nearest Railway Station: Karmali Railway Station, KRMI

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions

Time of the year: July

Length of the itinerary: 5 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Saakshi starts off with an overview of True Joy travels - a luxury travel service company for seniors, their USP and objectives. You can check out more on the social media handles of TJT linked below. 
• We discuss the planning and considerations that go into curating the trip and itinerary for seniors, origin story of TJT. 
• The points of interest include a visit to 
• A heritage walk to Fontainhas -  the latin quarter of Old Goa
• A visit to Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral 
• A visit to some popular beaches
• A trip to Chorao island and Salim Ali bird sanctuary
• A boat ride around the mangroves of Chorao island
• A visit to a local’s home and cooking session
• A stop at Konkani canteen for goan thalis
• A visit to a casino
• A stop over at fort Aguada and the beach
• We wrap up the discussion with upcoming trips and contact info for True Joy Travels  

Links:

Link to TJT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truejoytravels/

Link to Saakshi’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saakshirajat/

Link to TJT’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyk7iRYo0Q3l-NreJMjY94A

Saakshi’s previous episode on Majuli: https://open.spotify.com/episode/16TwAz8XY5luMwv3yYsO9r?si=3QfbEnXqRRetZ5bjXa8BvA

Other episodes on Goa: 

Riverside Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0HeHcX8FwaKiDHge99x5NX

Islands of Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RDLi8SRHdd14TvngVl61H?si=jz8a856xSR-h8nvYNO7csA

Susegad Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SrAaNTHCZfJ4KyuFjY1Tq?si=Nj6tJirJTmyzpCCQ8e-L9A

Roadtrip to Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qVIaTJi9aVGkG306w94jW?si=swG6hsIARuiFP5n1e194cw

Photo by Mohammad Aqhib on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

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GIVEAWAY ALERT: Answer 3 simple questions in the linked google form and stand a chance to win a copy of Shoba’s book on Bangalore! 

https://forms.gle/3AYKXjBpULeXUJSP7

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a author, columnist and podcaster Shoba Narayan as we talk about her latest book, Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis

Today's destination: Bengaluru!

Nearest Airport: Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)

Nearest Railway Station: KSR Railway station (SBC)

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions

Time of the year: NA

Length of the itinerary: NA

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Shoba opens the episode with an overview of the book, her connection to Bangalore and how the book came about. 
• We talk about the history of Bangalore, including the recent discoveries of hero stones that date the city back to 750-500 BC. We also talk about the myths and legends as well as Bangalore’s earliest trade connections. 
• We dive into the transformation of Bangalore of the 90s from pensioner’s paradise to the pub city of the 00s, some of the iconic drinks and breweries, the drinking culture of Bangalore, as well as the earliest connections to liquor. 
• We talk about the monsoon delicacies and snacks and take a quick stroll down memory lane. 
• Next we cover some iconic neighbourhoods of Bangalore, including Malleshwaram, Shivajinagar and VV Puram. 
• We cap off the episode by talking about the green lungs of Bangalore and closing comments. 

Links:

Link to buy “Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis”: https://www.amazon.in/NAMMA-BANGALORE-Metropolis-SHOBA-NARAYAN/dp/9357024662

Link to Shoba’s website: https://shobanarayan.com/books-main-page/namma-bangalore/

Link to Shoba’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shobanarayan/

Link to Shoba’s podcast: https://birdpodcast.com/

Photo Credit: Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis, published by Rupa Publications

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with lawyer and a hobbyist blogger - Juhi Gupta who blogs at www.forumhopping.wordpress.com

Today's destination: Meghalaya, the abode of clouds!

Nearest Airport: Shillong (SHL)

Nearest Railway Station: Guwahati Railway station (GHY)

Prerequisites -  Inner line permit may be required, pls check with relevant authorities.

Packing - Good walking shoes, rain gear, waterproof gear, trekking/hiking gear

Time of the year - All year round

Length of the itinerary: 8 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Juhi starts by sharing some insights into the state of Meghalaya, what it is known for and why she decided to visit.

• An overview of Chalo Hoppo and their USP - https://chalohoppo.com/

• Juhi starts her journey from Guwahati and makes the first stop at Shillong. A quick overview of preparation, group size as well as other requirements

• The first stop is the popular Umiam lake, a man made lake that offers serene views as well as opportunities for boating. The team also make a quick stop at the Dylan café, dedicated to American artist Bob Dylan

• Below are the places covered over the next few days

• Mawlyngbna

• Mawsynram

• Umkhakoi lake

• Split Rock

• Laitlum canyons

• Pynter village

• Shnompdeng village

• Umngot river

• Bangladesh border

• Root bridges - Mawkyrnot, the longest root bridge

• Cherrapunji/ Sohra

• Wei sodong waterfall

• Arwah caves

• Mawphlang sacred forests

• Other places to visit - Nongriat root bridge, Nokhalakhai waterfalls, David Scott trail

Links:

Link to the blog:

https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/

Link to blogpost:

https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/2023/02/19/meghalaya-part-i/

https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/2023/03/18/meghalaya-part-2/

Link to Forumhopping’s’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forumhopping/

Link to other episodes on Meghalaya

Lost in the Caves of Meghalaya: https://open.spotify.com/episode/509JER1Ulg7ZbtZWp72HKM?si=nIh8kQqyQDCivOPaaOtqNw

A ride to Meghalaya:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pTqG2aejXX5TJdolpD7Kr?si=zr9LmjKTT06goHlqtu81Qw

Photo by Amit Jain on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Sahana Kulur, an educator, architect, traveler and blogger at http://www.vacaywork.com as she takes us to the erstwhile capital of the Adil Shahi sultanate - Bijapur!

Today's destination: Bijapur or Vijayapura, Karnataka

Nearest Airport: Goa International Airport (GOI)

Nearest Railway Station: Vijayapura/Bijapur Station (BJP)

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - Good walking shoes, carry extra water as it can get hot during the day, sunglasses and caps/hats

Time of the year - September - Feb

Length of the itinerary: 2 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• We start the conversation with a quick chat about the very diverse and interesting history and backstory of the Adil Shahi sultanate and its origins - on how a young prince from Turkey was sold to a merchant and eventually ended up in the Deccan region after growing up in Persia.

• Set up by Yusuf Adil Shah, the Adil Shahi sultanate broke away from the Bahamani Sultanate after constant conflicts with the Vijayanagara empire. Bijapur served as the capital of the Adil Shahi sultanate.

• The Gol Gumbaz is the most prominent landmark of the capital and is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah who ruled in the 17th century. It is also the second largest dome in the world without any reinforcement, second only to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is also the biggest domed structure in India and is currently on the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

• Sahana shares her experience of visiting the Gol Gumbaz at sunrise, the views from the terrace, the optical illusion and the famous whispering gallery.

• Next up, we make a pitstop at Jama masjid, one of mosques in the vicinity with quaint architecture and interesting stories from the siege of Aurangazeb in 1686.

• One of the other interesting monuments is the unfinished Baara Kaman or the 12 arches. It was kicked off by the son of Ali Adil Shah II, but was never completed as he was killed before its completion. It is believed that the construction was stopped by his father fearing that the structure could eclipse the Gol Gumbaz.

• Another monument of interest is the Ibrahim Rouza built as a mausoleum for Ibrahim Adil Shah and his wife. It consists of a beautiful structure along with a mosque.

• One of the more recent hindu structures of Bijapur or Vijaypura is the Shiva statue at the Shivagiri park. It is one of the largest Shiva statues in India and was inaugurated in 2006.

• The other pit stops include a visit to the popular Khaanavali restaurants of North Karnataka that are prominent in the Jowar belt of the state. Sahana talks about Jowar rottis, brinjal curries as well as a variety of other mouth watering dishes from the state.

• Finally we end the trip with a visit to the Shastri market for pulses and spices, one of the biggest markets in Bijapur and some of its popular offerings.

• Some other monuments that could not be covered on the podcast include Asar Mahal, Gagan Mahal to name a few. For a detailed travel guide, please check out Sahana’s article on the blog - https://vacaywork.com/bijapur-travel-guide/

Links:

Link to Sahana’’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sahana.kulur

Link to blog post:

https://vacaywork.com/bijapur-travel-guide/

Link to website:

https://vacaywork.com/

Photo by Sahana Kulur

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to author and writer and illustrator, Seema Misra as she takes us to the land of the rising sun, Arunachal Pradesh!

Today's destination: Arunachal Pradesh!

Nearest Airport: Dibrugarh Airport (DIB)

Nearest Railway Station: Naharlagun railway station, NHLN

Requirements: Inner-line permit

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cold and monsoons are wet!

Time of the year: Dec-Feb, or during shoulder seasons after the monsoon!

Length of the itinerary: 11 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Start from Dibrugarh
• Namdapha jungle camp in Miao
• Roing with stops at
• Tibetan settlements at Choephelling
• Golden Pagoda at Namsai
• Archaeological remains at BhismakNagar
• Lake Sally
• Aalo or Aalong (home of the Kalo tribe)
• Mechuka
• Pasighat

Links:

Link to Seema’s blog: https://seemamisraart.blogspot.com/

Link to Seema’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seemamisra/

https://www.instagram.com/lonelycanopy/

Link to Seema’s portfolio: https://sites.google.com/view/seemamisraart

Link to episode on Mechuka: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5xnYrM4dIVeOHXKh2sqngv?si=87Jk5QZ9SPiOpZLTHjduJw

Link to episode on Tawang: ​​https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VmROjDO0oJZCkpMtGjLy2?si=-hriIlseTLa6FbQ55VcnZA

Link to episode on 7 Lakes trek:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7gEeyeSuykvK25ihBw6tFj?si=QuVE285TS2qbg5Jw7x7k2Q

Link to episode on Glaw Lake: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3VlES9609CvpupgwcFSR3n?si=Zq2x35mZQ66tQchLuo9Acg

Link to episode on Indore and Ujjain:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0BwEHojSBcJi5RoMjFhWjb?si=xtfnJph4Q5m0PVlph6XPiA

Photo by Seema Misra

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GIVEAWAY ALERT: Listen to the episode and answer 3 simple questions on our Instagram  ( @musafirstoriespodcast  ) https://forms.gle/aP35sfqcDkFLgczo7  to win some cool Madras Inherited Merch! 

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Trustee and Head of Operations at Madras Inherited (https://www.madrasinherited.in)

Today's destination: George Town, Chennai!

Nearest Airport: Chennai International Airport (MAA)

Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central Railway station (MAS)

Prerequisites -  Wake up early!

Packing - Good walking shoes, water to stay hydrated, umbrella, shades

Time of the year - Round the year

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Ashmitha Athreya is Trustee and Head of Operations at Madras Inherited - The vision for Madras Inherited streams from a larger vision for Heritage Awareness, Preservation and Conservation in the city. 
• The walk focuses on getting to the origins of George Town, the first British colonial settlement that was set up around Fort St. George. The walk includes pit stops at various historically and architecturally significant landmarks. 
• The first stop is at Parry’s corner, also known as Dare House - Ashmitha shares the history of the welshman after whom this building is named and some interesting insights on the architecture style known as Artdeco. 
• The next turn is on to the NSC Bose road or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose road that was also called China Bazaar road in the past. Some important buildings include TNSC bank, LIC building, SBI building that are built in the art deco style of architecture. 
• If one is interested, they could venture out further to check out some of the narrow market lanes of George Town - for paper/stationery, textiles, fireworks, flowers etc. 
• Our next pit stop is Armenian St where one can find the historic Armenian church and discuss its importance. 
• We next stop at what was formerly the Binny & Co headquarters. The building no longer remains and all that is left is a humongous parking lot which is used for shooting movies including the likes of Hey Ram and Guru. 
• Other important structures include YMIA - Young Mens Indian Assn and Gokhale hall. 
• Ashmitha talks of the two Beach Roads of George Town - Rajaji Salai and Kamaraj Salai - or North beach road and South beach road. The North Beach road has no longer access to the beach as the sea has receded. 
• We make a stop at the General Post office - one of the most beautiful structures in the city and we discuss the social implications of the GPO and its Indo Saracenic architectural style
• You can check out other walks offered by Madras Inherited on their website - (https://www.madrasinherited.in)

Links:

Link to the website:

https://www.madrasinherited.in

Link to Madras Inherited’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madrasinherited/

Link to Madras Inherited’s Twitter:https://twitter.com/MInherited 

Photo by Febin Roy on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to columnist and author, Anmol Jain, as we discuss his book Wanderings in the Land of Mist - A complete story of Mussoorie! 

Today's destination: Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED)

Nearest Railway Station: Dehradun Railway Station, DDN

Packing: Pack warm clothes

Time of the year: All year round, except monsoons

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Anmol provides an overview of the origins of Mussoorie, the founding fathers and how the town was established
• We also talk about some of the folklore around Lord Balram and his abode in the Bhadraj hills, as well as the temple that still stands. 
• We talk about Landour, its origins, the convalescent depot, the cantonment and some of its important locations. 
• We then talk about the important personalities of Mussoorie and their connection to Mussoorie, including 
• Capt. Young
• Sir George Everest
• Jim Corbett
• General Dyer 

• We talk about Mussoorie’s infamous title of the “Pleasure capital of the Raj”, the wild parties and the separation bells. 
• We talk about the urban legends and haunted stories, including the human oil extractors and dancing mistress. 
• We speak to the evolution of brews and breweries in Mussoorie, including the IPA and VAT 69
• We close the episode with some remarkable stories that deserve to be in the movies!

Links:

Link to buy Anmol’s  book: 

https://www.amazon.in/Wanderings-Land-Mist-Complete-Mussoorie-ebook/dp/B0CG6M5L8C

https://rupapublications.co.in/books/wanderings-in-the-land-of-mist-the-complete-story-of-mussoorie/

Link to Anmol’s website: https://anmoljain.in/

Link to Anmol’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anmolj_75/

Link to episode on Landour: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jyTU9Q4fQK8AIkB0mBqbM?si=K_qBTWhzRAKbRKlCRbKrRg

Photo by Soham Kalghatkar on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to traveller and writer Priyanka Gupta as she gives takes us around some villages in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh! 

Today's destination: Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh!

Nearest Airport: Kullu Airport (KUU)

Nearest Railway Station: Joginder Nagar railway station, JDNX

Requirements: n/a

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cold

Time of the year: Summer

Length of the itinerary: 8-10 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Priyanka shares some of her time spent in the villages of Himachal
• The primary locations include the lesser known villages in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh
• We start by exploring the ancient village of Pangna and its historic connections and legends. 
• The next pitstop is the village of Chindi where Priyanka has the opportunity to interact with the local girls, explore apple orchards and engage in some profound conversations with the locals
• Chindi is also one of the starting points to the trek to Shikari Devi temple. Priyanka shares some near mishaps during this challenging trek. 
• Another popular trek is the Kamrunag trek which is popular among the locals. 
• Priyanka also spends time around the Karsog valley, engaging in apple picking, tasting radishes and some local greens
• Other places in the vicinity include the Prashar lake, Rewalsar lake and Mandi town. 
• Priyanka also shares some lip smacking local dishes that one should not miss out on while in this region. 

Links:

Link to Priyanka’s blog: https://www.onmycanvas.com/

Link to Priyanka’s Instagram: https://www.onmycanvas.com/contact-me/

Link to episode on Manali: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7jMetTs5Kg0T3V4MOmAMLk?si=aEDm0nocQTagVMGnLcwJRg

Link to episode on Bhagsu Nag: 

https://www.audible.in/podcast/Bhagsu-Nag-Going-Offbeat-in-Himachal/B09F1Z9XHY

Link to the blog posts

https://www.onmycanvas.com/meandering-in-himalayas-simple-joys/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/apples-himachal-pradesh-india/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/himalayan-girls-patriarchy-grateful-hardearned-freedom/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/hotel-mamleshwar-chindi-karsog-mandi/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/shimla-tattapani-himachal-karsog-mandi/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/shikari-devi-temple-mandi-himachal/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/village-pangna-karsog-mandi-himachal/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/himachal-pradesh-images-india/

Photo credits: Priyanka Gupta on https://www.onmycanvas.com/

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Venkat Ganesh from the blog Indiabackpackmotorbike. Venkat talks to us at length about how everyone can travel if they really want to. About things he learnt after quitting his cushy job and travelling in India and beyond. Venkat takes us on a roadtrip from Mumbai to Goa along the Konkan coast and shares his experiences on the way!

Today's destination: Mumbai - Goa roadtrip along the Konkan coast

Packing - Pack light, first aid kit, medicines, sleeping bag

Time of the year - October

Length of the itinerary: 9 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Raigarh fort - capital of King Shivaji's empire. You could spend the night here
• Parshuram temple, beaches at Guhagar, Chiplun for the night. Enjoy some fresh sea food!
• Ferry across to Jaigad fort ruins facing the sea.
• Enjoy the ride from Jaigad fort to Ganpathipule, visit the Ganpathi temple
• Drive to Ratnagiri, the hometown of Balgangadhar Tilak. Visit the childhood home of Tilak and the palace of the King of Myanmar while in exile.
• Drive to Vijaydurg fort, a massive naval fort, enjoy the beautiful sunset from the fort.
• Drive to Malvan, ferry to the Sindhudurg fort, you could spend the night at Vengurla, plan a fishing trip with the local fishermen
• Start early, Ride into Goa!
• Visit Kolhapur on your return journey, enjoy the palaces, and the local food

Links:

Link to Venkat's blog: www.indiabackpackmotorbike.com/

More about the Guest: www.indiabackpackmotorbike.com/#about

Contact info: email: venkatganesh@indiabackpackmotorbike.com twitter - @Indiabckpckmoto Instagram - @Indiabackpackmotorbike

Like our work? Follow, Like & Subscribe to us. We would also love to hear from you, so do write to us at:

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Anusha Kay from the blog "The Small town blogger". Anusha shares her stories from an enriching trip to Benaras that she made on new year's eve. Sit back and enjoy listening!

Today's destination: Benaras (Varanasi) in Uttar Pradesh

Nearest airport: Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport or Varanasi Airport Nearest Railway Station: Varanasi City (BCY), Varanasi Junction (BSB), Kashi (KEI), Manduadih (MUV), Jalalganj (JLL), Shiupur (SOP), Bhulanpur (BHLP), Chaukhandi (CHH)

Packing - Pack warm clothes if traveling in winter months

Time of the year - December/January

Length of the itinerary: 3 days, 4 nights

Itinerary Highlights:

• Lodging at Pooja Guest house on the Lalitha ghat
• Spend time on a boat at Dashashvamedh ghat, listening to stories from the Maanjhi (boat rider)
• Visit the Manikarnika Ghat (where the Hindu cremations take place) and Assi Ghat- Yogis and sadhus mostly seen during the Kumbh mela. Beware of fake sadhus
• Legenf of the Manikarnika ghat
• Enjoy the street food at Kashi chat bhandaar - Tomato chaat, Samosa chaat and Poori bhaaji deserves a special mention. Finish up your meals with the famous Benarasi Paan (beetle leaf with a concoction of seasoning and sweet)
• If you are looking for a fancy meal, you might have to travel to Lanka road
• Shop for the beautiful Benarasi sarees to your heart's content
• Visit the Hanuman temple and Vishwanath temple, avoid peak hours or be stuck in long queues
• Enjoy the Benarasi Aarti at the ghats. Make sure to reach early to find a good spot!
• Make a visit to the Benaras Hindu University, the oldest university in India, if time permits.
• Partying on the rooftop of the guest house on new year's eve - from ghazals to bollywood rock anthems!
• Walking about the ghats, enjoying the graphitti and some interaction with the locals
• Make sure to leave 3 hrs in advance to catch your flight back (yes, traffic jams are terrible!)

Links:

Link to Anusha's blog: thesmalltownblogger.com/ Link to the blog post: thesmalltownblogger.com/2017/01/06/benaras/

More about the Guest: thesmalltownblogger.com/about/

Email: the.small.town.blogger@gmail.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/anusha.kayy Facebook : /thesmalltownblogger Twitter : @AnushaRambabu

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Bidisha Banik from the blog 'Resfeber18'. Bidisha takes us through an enticing journey of the annual Pushkar camel fair and relives the time she spent in the world famous fair as well as her experience glamping and being on a hot air balloon ride, courtesy Tripoto and Sky Waltz. Sit back and enjoy listening!

Today's destination: Pushkar, Rajasthan

Nearest airport: Sanganeer Airport (JAI), Jaipur, Rajasthan; Jodhpur Airport (JDH), Jodhpur, Rajasthan Nearest Railway Station: Ajmer Junction (AII), Ajmer, Rajasthan; Daurai (DOZ), Ajmer, Rajasthan

Packing - Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, scraf water to stay hydrated

Time of the year - September

Length of the itinerary: 3 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Expect to see a variety of livestock at the mela ground - the venue of the Pushkar mela. It is a livestock trading event that happens annually, usually a week during Oct-Nov, that has become a tourist attraction
• There are a plethora of cattle and livestock - camels - of all sizes and even different colors (ever seen a black camel?), horses, donkeys, cows, buffaloes etc
• Variety of contests - best moustache, kite flying, cricket matches, sack races, best turbans, best mustache and everything under the sun - bride & groom contest (yep, for real)! A total freak show!
• There's other stalls like handicrafts and turbans that showcase the local craftsmen. Apart from that are joy rides, giant wheels that are usually a part of any local fair. There are also concerts from well reknowned local and international artists.
• You can also expect to see a bunch of foreign tourists during the fair.
• Bidisha was a part of a Glamping trip - Glamorous camping/ luxurious campling trip organized courtesy Tripoto and Sky waltz.
• The camp site was a luxurious set up with fully furnished camps along with an attached bath!
• The trip also included a hot air balloon trip courtesy Sky Waltz.
• The balloon ride was scheduled for early in the day. Leave from the camp site at 4:30AM. Reach the site, undergo briefing about the protocols and landing procedures from the team.
• Watch the hot air balloon go from being a colorful piece of cloth to a magnificent full blown balloon, an amazing sight!
• Enjoy a great view of the Pushkar lake and Pushkar city from up above on the balloon. Wave to the folks on the ground!
• Experience a surreal moment while the sun rises from beyond the mountains!
• Enjoy time at the Pushkar market that has it's share of hippie ornaments and stuff. There are some awesome cafes too along the Pushkar lake where you can enjoy your food with a view!

Links:

Link to Bidisha's blog: bidishabanik.com/

Link to the blog post: bidishabanik.com/my-first-hot-air…ushkar-skywaltz/

Link to Skywaltz: www.skywaltz.com/

More about the Guest:

bidishabanik.com/about-resfeber18/ email: bidishabanik18@gmail.com Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/resfeber18/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/resfeber_18/ Twitter : twitter.com/BidB18

Like our work? Follow, Like & Subscribe to us. We would also love to hear from you, so do write to us at: Email : themusafirstories@gmail.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/MusafirStories Facebook: www.facebook.com/themusafirstories Instagram: www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast Website : www.themusafirstories.com

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#This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Prasad NP, also known as the 'desi Traveler'. Prasad shares his story about the time he spent traveling the Spiti Valley, Dhankar lake, Chandratal Lake and the beautiful Monasteries around. So sit back and enjoy listening!

Today's destination: Spiti -- Kaza, Chandratal Lake, Ki Monastery, Dhankar Lake in Himachal Pradesh

Nearest airport: Manali or via Shimla; Nearest Railway Station: Shimla railway station; Joginder Nagar railway station Direct buses are available from Chandigarh, Shimla, Kullu, Manali etc

Packing - Sunglasses, sunscreen, hats/umbrella, warm clothes, a good pair of shoes, medicines for AMS

Time of the year - June to September

Length of the itinerary: 7-10 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Spend a day in Manali to acclimatize yourself to the higher altitudes
• Start from Manali to Kaza - its about 12-14 hours by road. It is advisable to hire a cab/guide from Manali for your entire trip.
• Kaza can serve as the base - lodging in the Himachal tourism hotel; visit the Kaza monastery and kaza market.
• Enjoy the beautiful star trails at night from the rooftop of the hotel. Savour on some flavorful spitian food that is also influenced by tibetan cuisine
• Make a short stop to Ki Monastery, Enjoy the blue skies and cotton candy clouds, meet with the monks and get a beautiful view of the kaza city from the rooftop.
• Enjoy the awesome Himalayan tea offered from the Ki monastery's kitchen. If you are lucky, you could get a chance to interact with the monks help them with plucking sweet peas from the farm.
• Make a visit to the Dhankar monastery which is about 2 hours from Kaza, getting some beautiful shots along the way.
• Trek to the Dhankar lake, which is about an hour's hike from the monastery. Be sure to have a good pair of walking shoes on, some sunscreen to ward off the sun, and keep hydrated!
• Drive to the Langza Village, stay with the locals, enjoy interactions with the locals, partake in their daily chores like farming and weaving.
• Camp close to the Chandratal lake - the crescent shaped perennial lake that is also one of the source of the Chandra/Chenab River.
• Trek to the Chandratal lake early in the morning to enjoy the fabulous view of the lake with golden peaks in the backdrop as the sun ascends.
• Make a stop at the amazing Kunzum pass. Capture the pictures of the snow clad peaks, gompas and fluttering colourful prayer flags. Head back to Manali.
• Last but not the least, listen to some funny stories and useful advise on how to travel responsibly!

Links: desitraveler.com/

Links to the blog posts: desitraveler.com/dhankar-lake-trek-spiti/ desitraveler.com/travel-kunzum-pass-kunzum-la/

More about the Guest: desitraveler.com/travel-tips-blog…dia-photography/

twitter: @desiTraveler facebook: facebook.com/thedesitraveler instagram: www.instagram.com/desitraveler/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Aakash Mehrotra from the blog Hand of Colors.

Today's destination: Nagaland

Nearest domestic airport: Dimapur Airport (DMU) Nearest Railway Station is Dimapur (DMV)

Prerequisities - Inner line permit, see links section below

Packing - warm clothes, gloves

Time of the year - December as you get to see the Hornbill festival. Preferable to do a festival calendar check before you plan.

Length of the itinerary: 10 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Aakash speaks about his experience covering the Hornbill festival which takes place in Kisama, which is about 15kms from the capital Kohima. Bus services are available
• The Hornbill festival is a celebration held every year from 1st - 10th December, in Nagaland. It is also refered to as the festival of festivals as different Naga tribes come together and showcase their cultural heritage through this festival.
• One can see the display of different Naga cultures, their food, their traditional attire, dance forms, fight forms and much more. Along with these there is a variety of competitions right from food, to music to literary events.
• If you are brave enough you can also participate in the chilli eating competition and get a flavor of the bhut jolokia or ghost pepper, one of the hottest chillis in India.
• In terms of lodging Kisama has some decent homestays where you can lodge during the festival, but they are very limited in number. - Another option is to stay in Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, which is just 12kms from Kisama while you are at the festival. For other smaller villages, it is better to work with a local travel agent to arrange accommodation.
• By choosing to stay in Kohima, you can also experience the beautiful night markets during the festival as well as a flavor of local food, music and shopping.
• For transportation, public transport like buses and shared taxis are available but frequency is limited. Cabs are your best bet to get about the city/towns.
• Aakash also speaks about his next pit stop, Khanoma, which is one of few green villages in Nagaland ie a village which is completely self sustainable and has given up hunting in order to avoid any imbalances in the natural topography
• Aakash then travels to Mon - the final frontier of India. He shares his experiences in the village of Longwa, which is one of the final villages in Mon before the Myanmar border.
• Longwa is a village of of the head-hunters, warriors and tribes infamous for cutting off the head of their opponents in war.
• An amazing story with the cheiftain of the Longwa village ensues (spoiler alert! There is opium and Assam rifles in the story too!)
• From Longwa, Aakash makes a pit stop at Chuchuyimlang - a village in Mokokchung District which has been converted to a heritage village by the Nagaland Tourism board.
  
• As far as food is concerned, most of the Naga cuisine is water based, low or no oil base. Food is mostly boiled and not fried and organic. Sweet potatoes and rice beer are the popular choices among tourists as well.
• Listen to some amazing stories of experiences with the locals! From drinking rice beer to how the Nagas fooled the British into believing they had guns during the Naga wars!

Links:

Link to Aakash's blog Hand of colors: handofcolors.me/ Inner line permit: www.mdoner.gov.in/content/inner-line-permit

More about the Guest: Aakash Mehrotra is a business consultant and social researcher in the Digital Finance domain focusing on Digital Finance, Livelihoods, Financial Inclusion. Along with this Aakash is a travel writer who blogs under the name Hand of Colors. Aakash's work has been featured in several leading publications such as The Hindu and The Tribune.

email: trulyakash@gmail.com facebook:www.facebook.com/handofcolors/ Twitter: aakashmehrotra

Intro & Outro Stock media provided by Joey Stebanuk/Pond5

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello and welcome to the very first episode of the Musafir Stories - India's very own travel podcast, where each week, we share journeys of travelers in their own words and relive their experiences with you, our listeners.

Our sole aim with this podcast is to share with you, the rich experiences of travelling in India and inspire you to take the leap of faith, grab those backpacks, and set out to explore our beautiful and exotic country, India.

We are Saif and Faiza, your travel companions helping you explore the length and breadth of India.

Please listen to our future episodes and let us know if you like our work! You could mail, review or comment on our Podcasts, we would absolutely love to hear from you.

You can contact us at: Email : themusafirstories@gmail.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/MusafirStories Facebook: www.facebook.com/themusafirstories Instagram: www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast Website : www.themusafirstories.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Surya Raju from the blog Travelrope. Travelrope initially started out as a humble blog on Tumblr. Post a number of articles, Surya felt that she could perhaps ease the process of building trip itinerary by sharing her travel experiences as well as other travellers’ who contribute their stories to Travelrope. Travelrope has no longer remained a place just for travelogues as Surya also wanted to share what goes on in the lives of the many who have been inspiring to a whole lot of people out there. That is how 'Inspire Me' Series was born.Sit back and enjoy!

Today's destination: Sikkim - Lachen,Lachung,Chopta Valley, Yumesamdong etc

Nearest airport: Bagdogra airport Nearest Railway Station: Jalpaiguri railway station

Prerequisities - Permit for Nathula pass

Packing - winter apparel, medicines for AMS, sun glasses

Time of the year - November/December for the snow, April/May for warmer weather and rhododendrons!

Length of the itinerary: 7 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Travel to Gangtok after arriving at Bagdogra airport (about 4-5hrs)
• Enjoy the Teesta river enroute to Gangtok
• Spend time shopping and walking about MG road. Buy winter wear here if you haven't already carried it along. Cafes, bakeries and some folk dance here
• Photo op with yaks at Tsomgo lake
• Visit Nathula pass. Permits required for Indian nationals. Foreigners not permitted.
• Travel to Lachen from Gangtok, enjoy views of the Kanchenjunga mountain enroute
• Experience eco-tourism first hand where plastic is banned
• Enjoy Maggie noodles and chai at Thangu
• Chopta valley (beautiful rhododendron spreads in April/May) and Gurudongmar Lake at 17,000 ft ASL
• Drive to Lachung from Lachen, spend the night at Lachung and head to Yumthang valley the next morning.
• Hot water springs and rhododendron spreads at Yumthang valley
• Maggie noodles, spicy chana and chai (or old monk if you wish!) at Zero point (Yumesamdong)
• Drive back to Gangtok from Lachung.
• Visit Namchi (Shiva temple) and Pelling from Gangtok
• Monasteries and Sandrupse and Pemayangtse
• Nature walk to reach the ruins at Rabdentse
• Singshore bridge if you have time at hand
• Enjoying interactions with the locals and awesome cuisine.

Links:

Link to Surya's blog: www.travelrope.com/

Link to blog posts:

travelrope.com/juggernaut-happin…s-sikkim-diaries/ travelrope.com/surreal-nathula-pass/ travelrope.com/sikkim-travel/

Link to Inspire Me: travelrope.com/category/inspire-me/

More about the Guest:

travelrope.com/about/

Email: travelrope@gmail.com Twitter : @travel_rope Facebook : www.facebook.com/Travelrope-Lets-…1607829376107736

Like our work? Follow, Like & Subscribe to us. We would also love to hear from you, so do write to us at:

Email : themusafirstories@gmail.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/MusafirStories Facebook: www.facebook.com/themusafirstories Instagram: www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast Website : www.themusafirstories.com

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Anshul Akhoury from the blog dailypassengerr.com!

WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY ALERT: ANUJ 

Today's destination: Rajgir and Nalanda, Bihar!

Nearest Airport: Gaya Airport, Bodhgaya, GAY

Nearest Railway Station: Rajgir Railway Station, RGD

Prerequisites -  NA

Packing - Pack according to the weather. 

Time of the year - October to February 

Length of the itinerary: 2 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

Anshul takes us to his home state of Bihar covering a part of the most popular tourist circuit of the state, Rajgir and Nalanda

Places covered on the itinerary

World Peace Pagoda

Jarasandh’s Akhada

Swarna bhandar

Krishna’s chariot marks

Pandu Pokhar

Hot springs

Cyclopean walls

Nalanda university remains

Hiuen Tsang memorial

Kundalpur 

Pavapuri Jal Mandir

Bihar Sharif (if time permits)

Links:

Anshul’s blog:  https://dailypassengerr.com

Link to blogpost: https://dailypassengerr.com/2019/04/09/rajgir-nalanda-travelogue/

Link to podcast: https://linktr.ee/ansh997x

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyPassenger_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daily.passenger/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Aakash Mehrotra from the blog www.handofcolors.me

Today's destination: Pragpur and Garli, Himachal Pradesh!

Nearest Airport: Kangra Airport, DHM

Nearest Railway Station: Raimehtpur, MTPR or Ambh/Pathankot

Prerequisites -  NA

Packing - Pack according to the weather, warm clothes preferable

Time of the year - Round the year 

Length of the itinerary: 2 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

Aakash takes us to the first heritage villages of India, Pragpur and Garli in Himachal Pradesh. We discuss the origin of the village in the 1600s, the origin of the name Pragpur and the connection to the Sood community from Sirhind, Punjab. 

The villages prospered during the time of the British as the merchants here were instrumental in providing the timber and raw materials for building the summer capital of Shimla. 

The Beas river in the vicinity, the ample availability of timber and the good weather in the foothills helped the traders set up the operation. 

The village has a unique identity with an amalgamation of different architectural styles that the traders and merchants were exposed to during their travels. The mansions are inspired by Rajputana architecture, Mughal as well as British architecture and are reminiscent of the mansions of Shekhawati region in Rajasthan. 

The unique mansions, some of which date back to the 1600-1700s have still been maintained, and the villages were given the heritage village tag in 1997. 

Some of the unique mansion and havelis in Pragpur and Garli  one should check out include The Judge’s court, Lala Rerumal Haveli, Butel Niwas, Santri ki Kothi, Nalke vali kothi, Melaram ki Kothi, Chateau Garli.

If you are in the mood to splurge, the Judge’s court and Chateau Garli are two heritage properties which will give you a wonderful experience living in these mansions. There are also other lodges or serais that are more economical options. 

In addition to the mansions, one can also enjoy the sights and sounds of Himachal - from the Beas river to the majestic Dauladhar ranges. 

If one wants to extend the itinerary, other places of interest include a visit to the nearby religious places like the Jwalamukhi temple, Dada Sibba temple for the murals, and the unique Kangra style of art. Visiting the villages during the occasion of Lodi or Nakki ka mela - the wrestling festival that happens in September might be a good option. 

Links:

Aakash’s blog:  https://handofcolors.me

Link to blogpost: https://handofcolors.me/2019/06/16/to-the-heritage-villages-of-himachal-pradesh/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakashmehrotra

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aakashmehrotra/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handofcolors/

Link to Aakashs’ episode on Nagaland: https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/tms006-explore-nagaland-with-aakash-mehrotra/

Link to Aakashs’ episode on Landour: https://podcasts.apple.com/ng/podcast/71-explore-landour-with-aakash-mehrotra/id1209849464?i=1000456649557

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Husein and Keshav, hosts of the podcast “Far From Fact” (now you get the title of the episode?)

Today's destination: Day trips and lesser explored  places in and around Mumbai!

 Nearest Airport: Chattrapati Shivaraj Maharaj International Airport, BOM

Nearest Railway Station: Mumbai Central, MMCT

Prerequisites -  NA

Packing - NA

Time of the year - Round the year 

Length of the itinerary: Day trips/weekend getaway 

Itinerary Highlights: 

Husein and Keshav talk about some of the lesser known and visited places by tourists in Mumbai and shine light on the variety of options Mumbai has to offer to both visitors as well as locals. 

Day Trips/weekend getaways discussed on the episode include 

Sanjay Gandhi National Park (including Nagla block entrance)

Bhandup Bird Sanctuary

Coastal biodiversity center, Airoli

Day trips to Alibaug

BPT Park, Colaba

Shore walks, Juhu

Dharavi walking tour

Links:

Podcast website:  https://www.farfromfact.in

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farfromfact/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farfromfact/

Email: hello@farfromfact.in

Photo by Angel Santos on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Lakshmi Sharath, one of the  top travel writers and bloggers in India, who blogs under Travel with Lakshmi or lakshmisharath.com ! 

Today's destination: Coromandel Coast! 

Nearest Airport: Chennai International Airport, MAA

Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central, MAS

Prerequisites -  NA

Packing - Pack light, carry sunscreen and shades. 

Time of the year - June-Feb, avoid the cyclone season

Length of the itinerary: 4-7 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

Lakshmi takes us on a fascinating journey covering the east coast of India, exploring the colonial connections of the region, being at the forefront of trade and commerce, and how some towns and villages blossomed while others have stood still in time. 

The coromandel coast covers the states of Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh and runs along the Bay of Bengal. It is popular not just for its scenic beauty but also attracted travelers and traders from far and wide. 

The first stop on the itinerary is Madras or Madrasapattinam as it was formerly known. Madras’ rise to prominence dates back to the time of the Portuguese and Britishers, both having ruled here. The area around Santhome was a Portuguese settlement whereas the Britishers made it their first base as Fort St. George. The city still has a lot of remnants of its British connection with the secretariat building, the High court as well as some popular churches. 

Lakshmi carries on her journey passing Mahabalipuram,famous for its Shore Temple and moving on to Sadras or Sadrangapattinam - which boasts of a 17th century Dutch fort, and is also the scene of the Battle of Sadras fought in 1782.

The next pit stop is at Alamparai which has the ruins of a fort, believed to be built by the Nawab of Arcot, but was gifted to the French for their help and collaboration. The village was known to have a mint where coins were minted as well as a hostel for travelers. The region was also popular for trading of ghee, textiles and zari. 

Lakshmi moves on to Pondicherry from here for the night halt. Enroute Pondi, Lakshmi makes a stop at Marapakkam, popular for its huge salt fields. Pondicherry exploration includes a walk with INTACH - Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, around the city that was the headquarters of the French in India. Also on the itinerary is a visit to the popular cafes, architecture, streets and Auroville. 

After Pondicherry, Lakshmi travels to Cuddalore, one of the early settlements of the British at Fort St. David. Fort David is a shadow of itself and has completely been reduced to ruins. 

Lakshmi continues to drive from here and the next stop on the itinerary is Porto Novo, the other Portuguese settlement besides Santhome in Madras. It was formerly known as Parangi pete or land of the parangis/foriegners. It was also known to be a trade center for the Arabs and Yemenis. Porto Novo pagoda was known to be minted from the Porto Novo mint in this village. 

The next stop along the journey is Tranquebar or Tharangambadi - land of the singing waves, the most prominent Danish settlement in India. The town’s popular attraction includes Fort Dansborg, built in its unique Danish style, rustic streets like King’s street, Queen’s street, churches and temples. 

Karaikal, a part of the Puducherry/Pondicherry UT is the next stop on the road trip and includes a fascinating legend of Kraikal. 

The last stop on the road tip is Nagapattinam - believed to be a popular Dutch settlement  and also has a strong Buddhist connection. The town is also very close to other popular religious sites like Nagoor Dargah and Vellankani Cathedral. 

The final call out is for Poompuhar, the point where the final estuary of the river Cauvery meets the Bay of Bengal!

Links:

Blog: https://lakshmisharath.com

Links to the blog post: 

Part 1 : https://lakshmisharath.com/driving-down-the-coromandel-coast-part-1/

Part 2 : https://lakshmisharath.com/driving-down-the-coromandel-coast-2/

Part 3 : https://lakshmisharath.com/driving-down-the-coromandel-coast-part-3/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC57mn7ypVKFBb3UrMU7TiXQ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravelwithLakshmi   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lakshmisharath   

Marine Life of Mumbai: https://www.instagram.com/marinelifeofmumbai/   

Photo by Namrata Poddar on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with traveler and history & culture  nerd - Ayush Khanna, as he takes us back in time to explore an important milestone in India’s independence. 

Today's destination: Kanpur & Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Nearest Airport: Kanpur Airport, KNU or Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, LKO

Nearest Railway Station: Kanpur Central Railway Station (CNB) or Lucknow Railway Station (LKO) 

Prerequisites -  NA

Packing - Pack light

Time of the year - Nov-Feb, avoid the cyclone season

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

Ayush talks about the leadup to the 1857 Sepoy mutiny also known as India’s first war of Independence and discusses the connected histories of Kanpur and Lucknow during this period.

Kanpur used to be a garrison town of the British East India company’s troops. Kanpur turns out to be a key location where the 1857 mutiny played out. Ayush explains the role of Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the Peshwa in exile, the events that unfolded at the Massacre Ghat and Bibighar, the reaction of the East India company. 

In the meantime, Lucknow had been the home of Nawab aristocracy, starting with Asaf-ud-daula who was the architect of Lucknow, moving from Faizabad and  lasting till 1856 and ending with Wajid Ali Shah.    

Ayush also shares some interesting stories about the Cawnpore Memorial, Nana Rao park, the Baron of Cawnpore and All Souls church.  

Along with the history of the 1857 mutiny, Ayush also calls out some important structures in the two towns - Kala Imambara, Kaiser Bagh, Kothi Roshan ud Daula, The Residency and La Martiniere in Lucknow. In Kanpur, Ayush touches upon the popular mills like Elgin Mill, Lal Imli along with All Souls church.      

Of course, how could we miss covering some creepy ghost stories while here - learn about the Kanpur Cemetery and its Sa rkata Angrez or the headless Englishman as well as the horse riding Sufi! 

Covering the cuisine of Lucknow alone should take a season or two, but notable mentions starting with Idris ki Biryani and Lalla ki Biryani in the Chowk area, Aabodana home kitchen by Sheeba Iqbal for Sheer mal, Kheema matar, kali gajar ka halwa. Also try out Neymat Khana in Kaiserbagh for a collection of home food at one place. Bajpai’s chai, Shukla chaat, as well as Thaggoo’s badnaam kulfi and samosas are not to be missed while in Kanpur.

Links:

Ayush’s Blog : https://www.whitelotustile.com/ 

Article Blog post: https://livewire.thewire.in/politics/the-baron-of-cawnpore/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LotusTile 

Photo by Aradhya Kansal on Unsplash

Photo by Laurentiu Morariu on Unsplash

Battle music: Sota War (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/sounds/258207/) by YleArkisto (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/) is licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with traveler and content creator, Stuti Bhadauria who creates content at www.nomadographer.com

Today's destination: Islands of Goa!

Nearest Airport: Goa International Airport, Panjim, GOI

Nearest Railway Station: Karmali Railway Station, KRMI

Prerequisites - NA

Packing - Pack light, wear a good pair of walking shoes

Time of the year - Round the year, except summers

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

Stuti takes us on a whirlwind tour of Goa beyond the beaches! We explore the prominent islands of Chorao, Divar and St. Estevam as we explore the quaint villages, streets, churches and more in these islands.

We start off our journey from Chorao Island, the largest of the 17 islands around Goa. Chorao is situated at a distance of about 5kms from the capital Panji and is accessible via Ferry service.

Places to explore in Chorao - Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Mangroves leading up to the bird sanctuary, Devaki Krishna temple, one of the two temples dedicated to Krishna and his mother, Devaki, also known as Yashodha. Apart from the temple, popular churches in the island include Our Lady of the Grace, one of the earliest churches built in the region - island is also known as the island of Noblemen as the first portuguese noblemen settled here.

The other popular churches include St.Bartholomeus Church and Chapel of Our Lady of health, and Christ the King statue, situated a 360 view of Chorao islands

Next on the itinerary is Divar island - one of the more commercial islands in recent times. Things of interest include churches like Our Lady of Piety church and Sao Mathia’s church and the step well of Porne tirth thalli, once home to the Saptakoteshwar temple - the patron deity of the Kadambas.

Another unique festival celebrated in Divar is the festival of flags - Bonderam, Stuti explains the history and connections.

The final island on the itinerary is St. Estevam island, named after St. Stephens. The island is also home to one of the shortest ferry crossings in Goa (and perhaps the country!). Popular churches include The Lady of BoaVentura, Christ the King Statue (again), along with the 14 holy crosses, St. Estevam Church.

Another noteworthy phenomenon in Goa is the use of sluice gates, and Khazan system of irrigation that is completely a community driven initiative.

Other smaller islands include Vanxim, Sao Jacinto and Grand Island. Finish off the journey by walking along some narrow alleys, exploring the Goan architecture, a slowly dying breed of architecture.

Links:

Varsha’s blog: https://nomadographer.com

YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK8_Gab8W4t2YNiqx0QjUlg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomadographer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nomadographer

Photo by Jess Aston on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a dear friend, traveler and host of the podcast Baap beeti, Vaibhav Dewan!

Today's destination: Darjeeling and Kalimpong!
Nearest Airport: Bagdogra Airport, IXB
Nearest Railway Station: New Jalpaiguri, NJP
Prerequisites - NA
Packing - Make sure to carry warm clothes and accessories
Time of the year - April, September-October is a good time
Length of the itinerary: 6-7 days

Itinerary Highlights:

Vaibhav shares his itinerary around Darjeeling and Kalimpong, traveling with a toddler! The journey starts with a flight to Bagdogra or New Jalpaiguri, depending on your mode of transport.

The team hails a cab ride from the station to reach Darjeeling. The first day is spent seeing around the area, including the Cable car/ropeway, which is one of the longest in Asia.

The area near Chowrasta and the Mall road are full of tourists along with eateries as well as local shops to shop for souvenirs as well as restaurants and cafes.

A visit to St.Joseph’s school, North Point is also well worth the time, and is the location of the popular bollywood flick, “Yaariyan”

Tenzing Norgay Rock and Gombu Rock are other attractions in memory of the famous Sherpa mountaineers, Tenzing and Gombu Norgay.

While in Darjeeling, make sure to try out the world famous Darjeeling tea. A visit to a tea estate also helps one understand the history of tea as well as the numerous types of tea grown in this area.

The local markets around the mall road also have a variety of momos sold by locals, make sure to try that out.

Other nature related places that should make it to your itinerary include Rock Garden, which has a variety of plants and trees and involves a small trek to a waterfall.

Next up on the itinerary was a trip to the Dali monastery, along with the museum - a great chance to interact with the monks and understand the buddhist religion and culture. There are other popular monasteries like Ghum, Aloo bari, Bhooti Basti among others.

A visit to Darjeeling is incomplete without experiencing the Darjeeling Himalayan railway - make sure to take a joy ride on the popular ‘toy train’. A short trip to Batasia loop is a must do - the location of the popular hit “mere sapno ki rani’ starring Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore! The railways are also a UNESCO world heritage site!

Next stop is the Japanese peace pagoda built by the Nipponzhan Myohoji foundation to promote peace in the aftermath of the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Another important point of interest is Tiger Hill, one of the most visited spots to get a view of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world at 8586m, after Mt. Everest and Mt.K2.

Some popular eateries in the area include Keventers, Glenarys, Kunga’s, Nathmull’s, HImalayan coffee, Margaret’s deck. Also don’t forget to try the local spicy chilli - Daale, but try at your own risk!

Kalimpong is not too far away from Darjeeling but provides an offbeat experience compared to it’s more popular sibling. Places to check out include Lamahatta park, Durpin monastery, Cacti park and pineview nursery, Graham’s homeschools, Morgan house and Crookety, Mangal Dham among others.

Links:
Vaibhav’s podcast - Baap Beeti: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cELVD4HYXq0sAQ2lSKacc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pregnantpapa/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dewanekhaas
Link to the Andaman Islands episode: https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/show/the-musafir-stories-india-travel-podcast-yg3r-RgjYIgajKrExt2J2/episode/99-andaman-islands-with-vaibhav-dewan-mznq-IqY1WlDHPAvAzyb7?startTime=0

Photo by Joy Amed on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com
email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.
You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GIVEAWAY ALERT!
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE, ANSWER 3 SIMPLE QUESTIONS TO STAND A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF MIHIR’S BOOK - https://forms.gle/NUdNuS3HtwSiYmLNA

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with author and poet, Mihir Vatsa, as we discover the plateau town of Hazaribagh through Mihir’s book - Tales of Hazaribagh: An intimate exploration of the Chotanagpur plateau!

Today's destination: Hazaribagh!

• Nearest Airport: Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi, IXR

• Nearest Railway Station: Hazaribagh Town Railway Station, HZBN

• Prerequisites - NA

• Packing - NA
• Time of the year - Pleasant weather all round the year
• Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

Hazaribagh is a plateau town situated on the Chotanagpur plateau in the state of Jharkhand. Mihir takes us through his hometown, talking about his return back home and how he wrote the book, re-discovering his hometown.
Mihir talks about the origins of the town, its distinction of being one of the earliest hill stations in India, the vicinity to the Grand trunk road and the solace it offered to the homesick soldiers of East India Company.
We talk about the origins of the name, its connection to tigers and a thousand gardens.

Mihir also talks about the innumerable nature’s bounty in and around Hazaribagh including

• Hills (specifically the Canary hill)
• The iconic stepped lake formation or the Hazaribagh lake
• Rivers and some rock formations
• Forests and the Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Waterfalls including Tiger falls
• Hot springs at Surajkund
• The ruins of the Padma palace, Hawa Mahal and Badam Fort
• Karanpura valley and its rock art dating 10,000 BC

We wrap the conversation talking about healing, the real and present threat of coal mining, and the legacy of fear of the Naxals and how this has impacted the area.

Links:
Link to Mihir’s book: Tales of Hazaribagh: An intimate exploration of the Chotanagpur plateau!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tales.of.hazaribagh/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MihirVatsa
Website: https://www.talesofhazaribagh.com

Follow the Musafir stories on:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en
website: www.themusafirstories.com
email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.
You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Preeti Parthasarathy, the Peppy Travel Girl!

Today's destination: Jodhpur, Rajasthan! 

Nearest Airport: Jodhpur Airport, JDH

Nearest Railway Station: Jodhpur Junction, JU

Prerequisites - Dress according to the weather!

Packing - Pack your sunglasses and sunscreen!

Time of the year - Oct-Dec

Length of the itinerary: 4-5 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

Preethi starts off the episode with some geographic context around Jodhpur, best time to visit and ways one can get there. 

We touch briefly upon the history of the city as well as the founder Rao Jodha, a Rathore Rajput ruler from Marwar. 

Preethi kicks off the itinerary talking about the most iconic monument of Jodhpur - the Mehrangarh fort. Built in the 15th century, the fort is very well maintained and has an imposing structure given its strategic location. We discuss some rather difficult backstories and legends about the fort and its origins. 

The fort consists of 7 gates and numerous galleries and palaces inside. The important ones include the Sheesh Mahal, Phool Mahal. Moti Mahal, Takht Vilas. 

In addition to this, the galleries range from Pagadis to armoury to textile and palanquins. 

After spending time at the fort, one should definitely make a stop at Jaswant Thada - the royal cenotaph and often referred to as the Taj of Jodhpur. The architecture reflects Rajputana as well as Mughal influence. 

In the vicinity of the fort is the Rao Jodha Rock garden - that offers some wonderful insights into the ecology of the state as well as some interesting trails. 

Moving towards the old city, make sure to visit Toorji ka Jhalra, a step well as well as the Sardar Market and the bazaars by Ghanta Ghar! Shopping for handicrafts and textiles in these markets is a very popular activity among visitors and locals

Another popular item to check off is to get lost in the narrow lanes and alleyways of the old city, in its full glory with the blue walls and buildings. 

The final stop before turning our attention to the culinary delights of Jodhpur is the Umaid Bhavan palace, the current Raja's palatial residence. The palace is believed to have over 300 rooms as well as a vintage car museum! 

Once you've had your fix of shopping, make sure to check out the various eateries in Jodhpur, both the local outlets in the Ghanta Ghar area as well as the experiential ones. The noteworthy ones include The Omelette Shop, Surya Namkeen for kachoris, Rajasthani Thali at Gypsy, Shandaar, Sparrow's, Le Monk, Khaas Bagh among others! 

Preethi’s social media handles:

Twitter: @peppytravelgirl (https://twitter.com/peppytravelgirl)

IG: @peppytravelgirl (https://www.instagram.com/peppytravelgirl/?hl=en)

Follow the Musafir stories on:

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website: https://themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ayush Kumar as he takes us to the holy town of Puri!

Today's destination: Puri, Odisha!

Nearest Airport: Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI)

Nearest Railway Station: Puri Railway station (PURI)

Prerequisites - NA 

Packing - Pack according to the weather, dress code might apply at certain places 

Time of the year - November - January 

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days 

Itinerary Highlights: 

Ayush shares his experience visiting the holy town of Puri, situated in the state of Odisha

We discuss the origins and history of the most prominent place in Puri, the Jagannath Temple, and its connection to King Indradyumna. 

The temple is believed to have been rebuilt in the 10th century AD by the Ganga Dynasty. The deities of the temple include Lord Jagannath, and his siblings Subhadra and Balabhadra.

The unique feature of the deities is that they are all made of neem wood, unlike other deities found in prominent temples. 

Ayush explains the key features of the Jagannath Temple, the connection to the Odissi art forms, and the temple kitchen which is believed to be the biggest in the world. 

The temple kitchen is believed to have over 500 chefs and serves Chappan Bhog or 56 types of meals every day. 

We also discuss in detail about the iconic Rath Yatra of the temple. The Yatra happens over a period of 10-12 days and is attended by lakhs of devotees 

The Rath Yatra starts from the Puri temple and chariots of the 3 deities, Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra travel to the Gundicha Temple situated 3 kms away. 

There are several other rituals and ceremonies carried out prior to the yatra, including creating new chariots, bathing of the deities, quarantine for 14 days and many other interesting titbits. 

We also discuss some very interesting mysteries around the temple as well as the important ceremony of Nabakalebara, or replacing the deities with new idols. 

We cap off the conversation by including other places of interest, including the Puri beach, sand art by Sudarshan Patnaik, important Matthas in the vicinity, Chilika Lake, the artisan village of Raghurajpur among others.  

Links:

Episode 81 exploring on Bhubaneshwar: 

https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/explore-bhubaneswar-with-ayush/

Link to Ayush's social media:

Instagram: @soul.traveller.kumar (https://www.instagram.com/soul.traveller.kumar/)

Follow the Musafir stories on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Jasod Motwani as he takes us to the hill station of Chikhaldara in Maharashtra! 

Today's destination: Chikhaldara, Maharashtra

Nearest Airport: Shioni airport, AKD

Nearest Railway Station: Badnera Jn, BD

Prerequisites -  NA

Packing - Pack according to the weather, don't forget your rain gear during the monsoons!

Time of the year - June to September

Length of the itinerary: 2 - 7 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

Jasod starts off by discussing the geographical location of Chikhaldara and its USP as the only hill station in Vidarbha region in Maharashtra as well as the only place in Maharashtra with coffee plantations. 

The name Chikhaldara is a corruption of Keechaka Daara, which translates to the valley of Keechaka - an evil chieftain who was killed by the strongest of the Pandavas, Bhima, for harassing Draupadi

The region was discovered by Captain Robinson of the Hyderabad regiment in 1823, who was mesmerized by the beauty of the region. 

The first point of interest is the Melghat Tiger reserve, one of the first tiger reserves of Maharashtra, and is home to over 80 tigers and covers about 1600 square kilometers. The tiger reserve offers a variety of safaris and other sighting and adventure activities along with some good stay options

After wildlife, the next important point of interest on the itinerary are the forts of Gwalighar and Narnala forts. 

Gwalighar fort is named after the gawlis or shepherds of the region, it was first constructed by Ahmed Shah Wali in the 15th century. It has since been ruled by the Marathas and the British and has also been the scene of several key battles between the Marathas and the British. 

Shahnoor or Narnala fort was built by the Gond dynasty in the 10th century AD, but was later on ruled by Mughals and Rao Rana Narnal Singh after whom it is named. Look out for the wonderful fort gate as well as the huge cannon in the fort premises!

Other attractions in the region include Saakhar lake and Devi point which is of religious significance. Other lakes include Bir lake as well as Kaala pani lake. 

Also an important feature of the region are the view points, the famous among them being the Hurricane point, Mojiri point and Panchbol - an echo point. 

Important waterfalls in the region include Bhimkund, where Bhima is believed to have killed Keechaka, which we referred to earlier in the episode. Other important waterfalls include Bakadari and kalalkund waterfalls, which also offer some great trekking opportunities. 

Finally, Muktagiri is a complex of about 52 jain temples that is also a religiously significant place that has a lot of devotees visiting around the year and is situated about 50kms from Chikhaldara. 

Links:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jasod_m/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasod.motwani

Follow the Musafir stories on:

Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ila Reddy, as she takes us on a trip to the land of the Headhunters, Nagaland!

GIVEAWAY ALERT: 

https://forms.gle/QTLBNgZEy26CEzFQ9

Answer 3 simple questions and stand a chance to win a copy of the book “The Konyaks: Last of the tattooed Headhunters”

Today's destination: Nagaland

Nearest Airport: Dimapur Airport, DMU

Nearest Railway Station: Dimapur Railway Station, DMV

Prerequisites -  Inner line permit is required. Can be applied at https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/

Packing - Pack according to the weather. 

Time of the year - First week of April

Length of the itinerary: 6 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

Ila talks about the planning for this trip and more about her larger itinerary that included Kaziranga National Park, Majuli island and finishing off at Mon district in Nagaland to celebrate the Aoleng festival of the konyaks. 

We discuss more about the Konyaks and their unique tradition and culture including the tradition of body tattoos, large ear piercings and headhunting. The headhunting tradition, where warring factions would kill and carry the heads of opponents as it was believed to bring good luck, prosperity and fertility to the village. The practice started to decline after Christianity was brought to the area by the British, and stopped in the 1970’s. 

The Konyaks are one of the biggest of the tribes of Nagaland and are mostly situated in the Mon district of Nagaland. The last surviving head-hunters of Nagaland are in their 80s and 90s. 

The group planned to spend time interacting with the Konyaks during their Aoling festival that is celebrated before the harvest season to welcome spring and the new year. The festival is celebrated in the first week of April. 

The week-long festival includes music, dancing, feasting, sacrifices and traditional rituals. The preparation includes new clothes, food, rice beer, dressing up with the traditional clothes and headgear. 

Ila and the group spend time across three different villages participating in the celebrations. The trip starts off at the Shiyong, spending time at the tea estate of Phejin Konyak, a great granddaughter of a popular headhunter and author of “The Konyaks: Last of the tattooed headhunters”, among the views and the welcoming locals. 

After Shiong, the group spent time at Hongphoi & Wanchin - two smaller villages. Most of the octogenarian headhunters were in Hongphoi. The celebrations were more intimate and on a smaller scale. Ila also has the opportunity to engage in playing the traditional log drums during the festival. 

The next stop was at Longwa, which is at the Indo-Burmese borders. The celebration appears to be a bit more aggressive with gun totting Nagas who set off celebratory fire shots. The village was also unique given it was bordering Myanmar, giving access to some local delicacies. The Anghs or the chieftain’s house is half in India and half in Myanmar, and the locals are free to move about to the neighbouring village to visit relatives. 

Ila also spends some time visiting the local gunsmiths and craftsmen, who are popular for wooden products. We also discuss the effect of opium addiction as a part of the Naga lifestyle. 

We wrap up by discussing the Naga kitchen and its importance as being the centre of the Naga household where the family members spend most time in. The delicacies include non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes along with the local rice beer. 

Links:

Ila’s blog: https://ilareddy.com

Link to blogpost: https://ilareddy.com/2018/05/05/celebrating-aoleang-with-the-tattooed-headhunters-of-nagaland/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ilareddy/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ilareddy

Link to the book - The Konyaks: Last of the tattooed Headhunters: https://www.amazon.in/Konyaks-Last-Tattooed-Headhunters/dp/9351941124/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1627938608&refinements=p_27%3APhejin+Konyak&s=books&sr=1-1

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to the team behind the blog Chasing sunsets - Shilpa, Roomi and Nandhini. They started off like any friends in a movie, promising to meet each other every year in a foreign land. Since 2013, they have kept that promise and somewhere along the way, an urge to preserve these memories led to the blog Chasing sunsets. Sit back and enjoy listening to their exploits in Kasol, Malana and beyond

Today's destination: Kasol and Malana, Himachal Pradesh 

Nearest airport: Bhuntar Airport located near Kullu    Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot

Prerequisities - N/A

Packing - Light sweaters, warm clothes

Time of the year - September

Length of the itinerary: 7 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Start of the journey in Manali where you could spend a couple of days with nature, some delectable Himachali food and shopping for himachali stoles, pashmina, harem pants and souveniers. 
• Next stop Kasol, also known as the mini-Israel of India given the number of Israeli tourists and cafes. 
• Enjoy nature walks in the valley, streams, fresh mountain air and ofcourse some delicious Israeli food.
• Tosh is a beautiful village close to Kasol that offers a lot of hiking/trekking spots, beautiful views and cafes! 
• Malana is a little village about 2 hours from Kasol, and a 2.5 hour trek further. 
• Also famous (infamous rather!) for the Malana cream - a hash made from heirloom cannabis grown in this remote area of the Parvati Valley.
• Malana is also known as an aryan village, where the locals believe themselves to be the descendants of Alexander the great.
• Locals prefer not to mingle with the outside world and do not touch outsiders
• Listen to the interesting story of the goat justice!
• Lastly, listen up to some fun stories and useful advice from Shilpa and Nandhini!

Links to the blog:  http://www.chasing-sunsets.com/

Links to the blog posts:  http://www.chasing-sunsets.com/2014/05/05/a-guide-to-kasol-india/ http://www.chasing-sunsets.com/2016/12/27/malana-village-high-parvati-valley/

More about the Guest:  http://www.chasing-sunsets.com/about/

Email: Chasingsunsetstheblog@gmail.com  Instagram : @chasingsunsetstheblog  Twitter: @chasingsunsets1  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChasingSunsetstheblog

If you like our work you could follow us on : Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/musafirstories Website - www.themusafirstories.com Email - themusafirstories@gmail.com

#TheMusafirStories #travel #Vacation #India #Podcast #Kasol #Malana #Tosh #Manali #Himachal #ParvathiValley #Valley #Nature #TreeHouse #MalanaCream #Cannabis #HillStation #Café #holiday #MiniIsreal #Hebrew #ChasingSunsets

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Prachi Kagzi, founder of Little passports, a travel company that curates travel for kids. Being an avid traveller herself, Prachi was bit by the travel bug at a very young age when she travelled extensively with her parents both within and outside of India. Prachi shares the concept and vision of the Little passports and how she aims to instill the love for travel early on with kids. 

Prachi also shares her experience traveling the length and breadth of the country and beyond visitng wildlife sanctuaries, her love for the wild, some memorable moments from her visits as well as some top tips to consider while preparing for a visit to a wildlife sanctuary. Sit back and enjoy listening! 

Highlights:  - Prachi speaks about the concept of traveling early and how she picked it up from her parents.  - How Little passports was born while she was on trips with her son - The concept that is Little passports, how she prepares for these trips, who goes on these trips - Prachi also discusses at length the process of researching and first hand visits she makes to the locations along with her son before deciding on a trip - The diverse activities that kids and moms enjoy during the trips ranging from theme parks to wildlife sanctuaries to adventure sports, hiking and cultural trips - Prachi speaks at length about trips she has made to wildlife sancutaries in and around India - How one should plan for these trips to the heart of nature, preparation  - Memorable moments during the visits to the wild 

Links: http://littlepassports.in/

  More about Little passports: 

http://littlepassports.in/#about 

Email: Prachi@littlepassports.in  Facebook: Https://www.facebook.com/littlepassportsindia  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlepassportsindia/?hl=en  Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/lilpassports

#India #travel #TheMusafirStories #LittlePassports #kid #family #wild #sanctuaries

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sangeeta Das from the blog lifeisavacation.in. Sangeeta blogs about the complete experience of a destination, the sites, the people, art and the food, the experience of just being there and the soul search that follows. She believes that sites are seen by tourists but travelers seek much more wanting to immerse into the sights and sounds of the place with all their senses

Today's destination: Kutch, Gujarat

Nearest Airport: Kutch airport (Bhuj)
Nearest Railway Station: Bhuj railway station

Prerequisities - permit required for Great Rann of Kutch, can be obtained with ID proof

Packing - Sunscreen, sunglasses, hydrants for the day; Cap, warm/light jackets, sweaters for nights

Time of the year - December; Best time to travel is between October and March

Length of the itinerary: 10 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Day trip in Ahmedabad; free walk from Temple to Mosque (Swaminarayan temple in kalupur to Jama Masjid), local street food, Adalat stepwell
• Sun temple at Modhera
• Step-well at Patan (Rani ki vaav patan), built by Rani Udaymati for her husband & King Bhimdev
• Patola sarees and how they are made at Patan
  
• Little Rann of Kutch @Rann riders - Wild Ass sanctuary, watching migratory birds, exploring Kutchi cuisine, living in the traditional bhungaas
• Indus civilization excavations at Dholaveera
• Stay in Devpar @homestay by Jadeja royal family
• Vijayvilas palace at Mandvi - summer home of the Jadeja royal family; Also the location of Hum Dil de chuke sanam!
• Visiting the beach, Tasting Dabelis and camel rides Devouring the Osho thali at Mandvi
• Koteshwar temple, Narayan Sarovar lake, Lakpat fort at the Land's end
• Fossil park run by Mr. Sodhi
• Rann utsav at the Great Rann of Kutch; stay at the eco-resort Sham-e-sarhad
• Watching the moon at the Great Rann of Kutch; enjoying
• Handicrafts at Nirona village, Dhordo, Rogan art; Kutchi bells, India Bridge near LOC
• Birding and photography at chadidand
• watching the 2 jackals at the temple at kalodungarh hill
• Interacting with the Rabadi nomadic tribe

Links:

Link to Sangeeta's blog: http://lifeisavacation.in/

Link to related blog posts: http://lifeisavacation.in/2016/08/12/bhuj-sightseeing-kutch/ http://lifeisavacation.in/2013/05/30/rann-of-kutch/ http://lifeisavacation.in/2013/09/16/5-tourism-spots-mandvi-gujarat/ http://lifeisavacation.in/2016/08/11/koteshwar-narayan-sarovar-road-trip/ http://lifeisavacation.in/2013/12/27/dholavira-indus-valley-civilization-india/ http://lifeisavacation.in/2013/11/06/bhuj-chhatris/ http://lifeisavacation.in/2013/09/20/must-see-kutch-india/

More about the Guest:

http://lifeisavacation.in/2013/06/03/ceo-body-life/

#travel #India #Gujarat #GujaratTourism #RannOfKutch #Kutch #Mandvi #Patan #Modhera #SteppedWell #RaniKiVav #Ahmedabad #Patola #RannRiders #WildAss #Camel #Bhungaa #DholaVira #VijayVillas #Palace #Dabeli #Osho #thali #landsend #KaloDungar #Rogan #Rabari #holiday #TheMusafirStories

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Namita Kulkarni from the blog - Radically Ever After. Not only is Namita a traveller, but she's also a full time Yoga teacher, writer, artist. 

Namita has completed 610 hours of Yoga Alliance certified teacher training, and learnt from various teachers – and students – around the world.

Apart from yoga, She loves creating adventures/misadventures, reading, learning new languages, generally seizing the day and living to share the tale. T

Mostly a solo traveller, Namita has chased her fears across 14 countries and gotten to know them better with every journey.

 From ziplining in Thailand, jumping off a waterfall in Mauritius to rafting in Rishikesh, paragliding in Bir to bouldering in flipflops in Hampi,to trekking Mt. Le Pouce on an empty stomach to getting lost with a dead cellphone on a small Thai island. 

Today's destination: Netala, Uttarakhand   Nearest Airport: Dehradun Airport (Jolly Grant) Nearest Railway Station: Haridwar Junction

Prerequisities - Enrollment at the yoga center - Sivananda Kutir 

Packing - Warm clothes are prefered

Time of the year - October

Length of the itinerary: 

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Namita was a part of group completed their yoga teacher training course (TTC) at the Sivananda kutir in Netala/Uttar Kashi
• The institute is located at the foothills of the Himalayas, very close to where the river Ganges/Ganga takes birth - Gangotri
• Namita shares the multitude of experiences she had while she was a part of this learning trip turned adventure in the remote himalayan village
• Namita spent a good part of a week at Netala learning yoga and exploring life cut off from the rest of the world; Having palm sized spiders as room-mates
• She explains the course curriculum as well as her experience with satvik food
• Her tryst with the locals of Netala and the peculiar similarities and the hobby they share with the other elders
• Walking meditation and yoga at the beach by the Ganga river (for real!)
• Hear to what Namita is up to and how you can follow her work

Links: 

Link to the Yoga ashram's website:  http://sivananda.org.in/uttarkashi/

Link to Namita's blog:  www.radicallyeverafter.com  

More about the Guest: 

Social handles:

Email: namitayoga@gmail.com  Twitter: @namitakulkarni  Instagram: @namita_nefarious  Facebook: Radically Ever After 

#Yoga #Netala #SivanandaYogaAshram #Himalayas #Ganga #Ganges #Gangotri #Haridwar #Rishikesh #SatvikFood #Siror #Bridge #Sivananda #Kutir #Uttarkashi

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ankita Kumar from the blog MonkeyInc. Ankita Kumar is a travel monkey from India in love with bright colours, colourful tights, strange foods and spazzing out. She is a scriptwriter and filmmaker by profession. She loves travelling to rarely visited places, making local friends and being an absolute klutz.

Today's destination: Tawang - Ankita shares her stories about the road trip she made from Guwahati to Tawang with her family.

Nearest domestic airport: Salonibari Airport, Tezpur Nearest International Airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati Nearest Railway Station is Tezpur Railway Station

Prerequisities - Inner line permit, advisable to book cabs before hand - you might need to book separately for going around in Arunachal Pradesh

Packing - warm clothes, show shoes/boots, gloves, sunscreen (yup, for real!)

Time of the year - May, summer months advisable

Length of the itinerary: 1 week

Itinerary Highlights:

• Fly in to Guwahati, hire a cab till Arunachal Pradesh
• Winding roads, Blankets of mist, momo & tea shops, fields of flowers while passing through Shillong, special mention to the Ladies purse flower!
• Lodging in Dirang for the night
• Tshachu Hotsprings and Jung/Nurarang waterfalls enroute to Tawang
• Bumla Pass at the Indo-China border, over 15000ft above sea level
• Prayer flags, prayer wheels, pagodas and markets of Tawang
• Visiting the Madhuri lake (Yup, named after Madhuri Dixit, the Indian movie star!)
• Tawang Monastery, Urgelling monastery
• Interacting with the monks, drinking butter tea and carrying the prayer wheel back home!

Links:

Link to Ankita's blog MonkeyInc: http://www.monkeyinc.in/

Inner line permit: http://www.mdoner.gov.in/content/inner-line-permit

More about the Guest: Ankita Kumar is a travel monkey from India in love with bright colours, colourful tights, strange foods and spazzing out. She is a scriptwriter and filmmaker by profession. She loves travelling to rarely visited places, making local friends and being an absolute klutz. She has ridden an ostrich, swum in the ocean with bioluminous planktons, giant manta rays and sharks, tasted porcupine meat, chilled with Komodo dragons, dived in a shipwreck and has narrowly escaped getting stung by a jellyfish. Follow this monkey for crazy adventure stories, tips and well… mostly to get amused.

#travel #India #IncredibleIndia #themusafirstories #Tawang #NorthEast #Arunachal #Nurarang #BumlaPass #Prayer #flag #wheel #PrayerWheel #Sangetsar #Madhuri #Lake #monastery #Pagoda #Urgelling #Monks #Butter #Tea

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Venkat Ganesh from the blog Indiabackpackmotorbike. Venkat talks to us at length about how everyone can travel if they really want to. About things he learnt after quitting his cushy job and travelling in India and about moving to Vietnam and teaching English. Venkat speaks about his stint as a teacher in Vietnam where he spent close to 3 years teaching. His pupils varied from a group of trained Vietnamese teachers to a group of rebellious teenagers to a group of cute 4-10 year old kids. So sit back and enjoy his stories from Hanoi.

Today's destination: Vietnam

Itinerary Highlights:

• Short stint in Thailand
• False start at Ho Chi minh city.
• In love with Hanoi, teaching and more
• Dealing with the language problems and the funny side to it
• Living in Vietnam and tryst with the Viatnamese cuisine
• Teachings gigs in Hanoi - teaching everyone from teachers to teens to kids

Links:

Link to Venkat's blog: http://www.indiabackpackmotorbike.com/

More about the Guest: http://www.indiabackpackmotorbike.com/#about

Contact info: email: venkatganesh@indiabackpackmotorbike.com twitter - @Indiabckpckmoto Instagram - @Indiabackpackmotorbike

#travel #motorbike # Vietnam #Hanoi #holiday #dream #Teaching #

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• Introduction to the Airline Loyalty Programs
• How to Join Up with the Various Airline Loyalty Programs
• How to Earn Miles
• How to Use Miles
• How to Make the Most out of Your Miles

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Kartik Kannan from the blog Katchu Travels. Kartik is a product manager by profession advising early phase start ups. He also loves shooting weddings in his free time while also pursuing his love for travel through travel documentaries, like the #BeachTrail2017!

Today's destination: The Beach Trail - based on the movie 'The Beach', this is set in Thailand and tries to recreate the magic from the DiCaprio starrer, The Beach, based on the novel by Alex Garland.   Nearest Airport: Koh Samui/Don Mueang air port

Prerequisities - check the Visa fee waiver for Indians, it will save you about INR 2000 as well as an hour at the immigration!

Packing - make sure you pack a few extra pair of clothes, specially if you are going there during Songkaran - the equivalent of Holi, minus the colors!

Time of the year - April

Length of the itinerary: 9 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Fly in to bangkok at the Don Mueang air port
• It's best to get a sim card for your phone once you land in the airport, coverage is great and plans offer ample 4G data
• Take the bus to Khaosan road from where you take the bus to Chumphon 
• Enjoy a ferry ride from Chumphon National park to Koh Phangan. 
• Once in Koh PHangan, it's best to make the Haadrin area as your base as it has a number of economic hostels as well as supermarkets to get your essentials. Besides, this is the venue of the famous full moon parties!
• You could spend time at the numerous beaches - coco hut beach is a fun place to hang out and play volley ball as well!
• Bikes and scooters are available to rent and explore the island. Day 3 was spent at a couple of pristine waterfalls - Paradise waterfalls and Phaeng waterfalls
• Ride a songtha or shared auto! And for those looking for Indian food, yes there is an indian restaurant - Om Ganesh!
• Day 4 was spent at Chaloklum which is a fishing village. Spend some time at the desolate beaches off Chaloklum. And spend time watching the beautiful sunsets at the beach!
• Get hyped for the FUll moon party - face painting, colorful clothes, psychadelic lights, EDM to pop to Bob Marley, Beer pong and what not.  
• The next day was spent exploring the Ang Thong marine islands and enjoy some water sports, mountain treks and beautiful views of the surrounding islands and the emarald blue lake!
• Make sure to partake in the Songkaran festival if you are in thailand during April 12-15, Thailand's popular water festival!
• Travel to the island of Koh Tao and enjoy Holi, thai style! Make sure you invest in a good water gun! Also a popular spot for getting a scuba  diving certification!
• Take the ferry to Chumphon and a train ride onward to Bangkok to end the #BeachTrail2017!

Links:

Part 0 http://www.katchutravels.com/thebeachtrail2017-chennai-koh-phangan-24-hours-first-day/

Part 1 http://www.katchutravels.com/thebeachtrail-part-1-settling-koh-phangan/

Part 2 http://www.katchutravels.com/thebeachtrail2017-part-ii-discovering-coco-beach-paradise-waterfall/

Part 3 http://www.katchutravels.com/thebeachtrail2017-part-iii-discovering-chaloklum-mae-haad-full-moon-party/

Part 4 http://www.katchutravels.com/thebeachtrail2017-part-iv-discovering-angthong-songkaran-koh-tao/

More about the Guest:  Twitter - @KatchuTravels Instagram - @Katchutravels Facebook - @Katchutravels

#travel #TheMusafirStories #KatchuTravels #TheBeachTrail2017 #TheBeach #Movie #AlexGarland #Thailand #Kohphangan #Haadrin #FullMoon #Party #Angthong #Marine #NationalPark #Chaloklum #Bangkok #Songkaran #Festival #KohTao #ScubaDiving

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sai Kumar, the man behind the handlebar of our most epic road trip so far. Sai grew up in the UAE before moving to India for his graduation. Sai later went on to do his masters in the UK before moving back to the UAE. Find out how Sai quit his job to follow his passion to travel India!

Today's destination: INDIA!

Sai's Ride - Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500cc

Prerequisities - preparation for the trip in terms of funding, crowdfunded, roughly cost about 1.3lakhs for the entire trip

Packing - Medicines, spares, travel accessories, tent, sleeping bag, rucksack (clothes, documents, camera, laptop, dry fruits), tripod, tent, saddle bags (bike spares, winter clothes, camera accessories, personal toiletteries), jerry can for spare fuel

Time of the year - July-October 2016

Length of the itinerary: 77 days and 11,124kms!!!

Itinerary Highlights:

• The journey was planned to cover the points of Saint Adishankaracharya's four vedic centers in the four corners of India.
• Coimbatore was the starting point of the journey, the place where Sai was based.
• First pitstop at Kannur, Kerala - stop for the night, enjoy the Theyyam form of dance/worship if you find time!
• Ride along the konkan coast with stops at Mangalore/Udupi for lunch and reach Murudeshwar before sunset. Enjoy the beautiful view of the enormous Shiva statue overlooking the beach. Rise early and ride towards Goa!
• Pitstop at a friend's house in Mapusa, visit the beaches like Anjuna that are close by. Spend the night in Goa and start riding towards Mumbai the next morning.
• ENjoy the beautiful coastal roads of the Konkan region, make stops at beautiful forts on the way.
• Break for a few days in Mumbai, hanging out with friends and recharging yourself for the journey ahead. Move towards Gujarat once you start from Mumbai
• Pitstop at Bhuj enroute to the Rann of Kutch!
• Enjoy the views around the Rann in offseason and literally no people around(spoiler alert - the Rann is flooded in off-season!)
• Relive the legend of the Kala Dungar temple and the jackals. Ride towards Jaisalmer the next day.
• Enjoy the Thar desert safari with Sharukh Khan and Salman Khan! No kidding!
• Next stop at at Jugaad - the hostel, in Amritsar! One of the best experiences during the trip, Sai spends close to a week exploring Amritsar and Punjab.
• Enjoy the various trips organized by the hostel!
• Food trips - food walks, eat all you can contest, visit the amazing Golden temple, offer prayers and serve food
• Wagah border trip - Hey Pakistan!
• Village trip - milking cows, farming, live the village life!
• After spending some great time in Punjab, it was time to head towards Kashmir. Unfortunately, the situation was tense in Kashmir and needed a change of plans - Sai had to ride through Manali, rather than Srinagar which was the original plan
• Find out what happens next in Part 2 of the Great Indian Road Trip only on The Musafir Stories next week.

Links:

Link to Sai's blog - www.planetsai.com Link to the photo story - http://imgur.com/a/aE9nR

#travel #great #india #IncredibleIndia #RoadTrip #holiday #adventure #royalEnfield #ThunderBird #Kerala #Karnataka #Maharastra #Goa #Gujrat #Punjab #Rajasthan #Wagah #RannOfKutch #Murdeshwar #Western #Ghats #Konkan #Malabar #Bullet #MotorBike #Bike #TheMusafirStories #PlanetSai #IndiaTravelPodcast

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to  Sai Kumar as we continue disucssing his ascent towards Leh-Ladakh after having successfully covered the terrains of the Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Punjab. So sit back and enjoy part 2 of the Great Indian Road trip!

Time of the year - July

Length of the itinerary: 77 days, 11,124kms!!!

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Sai continues his journey from Amritsar towards Ladakh, albeit with a slight change of plan due to the unrest in Srinagar.
• He finds a travel companion in Peter, a British explorer who has been riding his bike across the world, and the two set off towards Kashmir via the challenging Sach Pass, the mother of all passes!
• This was one of the most challenging stretches of the road trip, yet completely pristine and serene. There were a couple of landslides to deal with as well as streams to cross!
• Finally a stop at Killar for the night, after almost 16 hours on the road
• Continue riding towards Key long, the last base before riding towards Leh with a stopover at Udaipur(HP) and Saarchu!
• Start early, pass Pang before you hit the Leh-Manali highway and enjoy riding on good roads after a long time.
• Finally reach Leh on day 36! Sai spends about two weeks here where he meets up with family traveling from Bangalore!
• Some things to do are Pangong Lake, slightly over-rated according to Sai. Visit monasteries like Thiksey monastery, Shanti Stupa, the market place of Leh.
• Homestays is a good way to interact with the locals and be closer to the local culture. 
• Treks to Nubra valley, seeing camels, Kargil war museum and tons of things to do in this beautiful town of Leh! 
• Finally start the descend downwards (although the original plan was to travel south east towards Assam, the flood situation in Bihar, UP and Assam forced Sai to change directions again)
• Leh - Jaspa - Manali- Chandigarh. Finally get to enjoy the good roads after close to a month and enjoy some good food!
• Ride towards Delhi for a short trip and enjoy the sights around NCR before heading out towards Agra!
• Hit the Yamuna express way to reach Agra in a whiff! 
• Watch the mighty Taj Mahal in all its glory and Sai also got to celebrate his birthday in Agra, albeit he was a bit sick
• From here heads off towards MP where Khajuraho is his next stop - exploring the iconic temples and learning about the history of the place. Hiring a local tourist guide would be beneficial. 
• Start riding towards AP and Telangana and reach Hyderabad!Feeling closer to home! Enjoy the sights of Hyderabad!
• Get some rest and head off towards Bangalore! Sai had to suffer another scare as there were Cauvery water related riots in Bangalore and parts of Tamil Nadu. Sai manages to get away to Hosur before things get out of hand. 
• Sai continues towards Madurai and visits the Meenakshi Amman temple, an architectural marvel!
• Sai next heads off to Kanyakumari, enjoys Onam festivites on the way, enjoying some Sadya - the traditional meal of Onam!
• Visit the Swami Vivekananda rock memorial and museum to know more about his journey across India!
• Before finishing off the journey, Sai decides to join his family for the Sabarimala pilgrimage after which he returns back to Coimbatore - where it all started.

A bitter-sweet feeling, on one hand you are back  to the comforts of home, but deep down, you know your freedom you enjoyed during the trip is going to die a gradual death!

Links:

Link to Sai's blog - www.planetsai.com

Link to the photo story - http://imgur.com/a/aE9nR

#travel #trip #road #bike #India #IncredibleIndia #TheMusafirStories #SaiKumar #Ladakh #British #explorer #Kashmir #Sach #Pass #Killar #Pangong #Lake #3Idiots #Thiksey #monastery #Yamuna #TajMahal #Hyderabad #Swami #Vivekananda #Memorial #Coimbatore

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sandy & Vyjay from the blog Voyager. VOYAGER was born out of a burning desire to share our travel experiences and stories with others. The more they traveled, the more they felt the need to record and share our experiences and this finally led to the crystallization of VOYAGER, a one-stop place for information and stories about travel destinations, food and culture as well as travel tips.

Today's destination: Sikkim

Nearest airport: Bagdogra Airport

Nearest Railway Station: New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri

Prerequisities - permit required for Nathula pass

Packing - warm clothes, pills for AMS

Time of the year - November

Length of the itinerary: 7 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Pristine views of Pelling, the great Kanchenjunga mountains
• the sacred khecheopalri lake
  
• Kanchenjunga waterfalls; Singshore hanging bridge
• Spending time visiting monastries
• The golden Buddha statue at Buddha park - Ravangla; bird watching and hiking; sunrise point and view of the greater himalayas
• Spending time in Gangtok - MG road, cafes, Hanuman Tok, Ranka monastery
• Namgyal institute of tibetology
• Lighting earthern lamps at Do-drul chorten buddhist stupa for world peace
• Spending the evening at Banjhakri falls and park
• Changu lake, highest ATM, Sherathang, Baba mandir and Nathula pass

Link to Sandy & Vyjay's blog - http://imvoyager.com/

Link to related blogposts -

http://imvoyager.com/a-road-trip-to-die-for-gangtok-to-nathula-at-an-altitude-of-14-400-feet-nathula-gangtok-roadtrip-india-mountains-sikkim-military-china-blog/ p http://imvoyager.com/ravangla-pelling-gangtok-sikkim-buddha-temple-travel-blog/

http://imvoyager.com/pelling-sikkim/

More about the Guest: http://imvoyager.com/

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to up and coming instagrammer, Shikhar Lohia, who posts under the handle @upandmeandering. Shikhar is a recent graduate of Delhi university who works for an international property consultant and is based out of Delhi.

Today's destination: McLeod Gunj

Nearest Airport: Gaggal airport Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot railway station is located at a distance of 90 km from Mcleodganj and is the nearest broad gauge rail head to the city. The nearest meter gauge railway stations to the city are Kangra and Nagrota

Prerequisities - n/a

Packing - Some warm clothes and a camera!

Time of the year - Summer is the best time to visit the hills!

Length of the itinerary: 1 week

Itinerary Highlights:

• Shikhar sets out on this week long trip from Delhi by boarding a bus at the Kashmere gate
• Shikhar explores the city center and local cuisine on the first couple of days
• A chance encounter with an American couple led to one of the highlights of this trip - getting to attend the teaching of Dalai Lama!
• Shikhar spent more time reading about the Dalai Lama and exploring local cuisine and culture, photographing the city.
• Also on the agenda was a visit to the Bhagsu Nag temple, Bhagsu Nag falls and the famous Shiva cafe, spending time sipping on tea and talking about random things under the stars!
• Do not miss a visit to the Dal lake, the namesake of the one in Kashmir. It has a unique feel to it nestled in the Deodhar trees in th backdrop of mountains!
• Finally, Shikhar spent his final part of the journey volunteering with the Lha charitable trust, teaching conversational english to Tibetan refugees.

Must visit - Jimmy's Cafe for some amazing waffles, Shiva's cafe for some hot coffee by the calming waterfalls, Tibetan kitchen for some mouth-watering momos!

More about the Guest:

Instagram - @upandmeandering Tripoto profile - https://www.tripoto.com/profile/shikharlohia6049496

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to the founder of Travelling Camera Vijay Sharma, a technology professional based in Noida who also has a keen interest in photography. With more than 9 million page views till date, TravellingCamera and VJ Sharma are well known in the Indian Blogging space. Join us as Vijay takes us with him to one of his most epic treks till date - The Shrikhand Mahadev trek!.

Today's destination: Shrikhand Mahadev Trek, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh

Nearest Airport: Bhuntar Airport, Kullu

Nearest Railway Station : Shimla

Nearest Town : Nirmand Village

Prerequisities - trekking stick, water bottle, trekking gear, rain suit and not to forget a cap/hat and sunscreen to save you from sun burns!

Packing - Light weighted warm clothes, energy bars, Energy drinks, Oral Rehydration Salts, dry fruits and a camera!

Time of the year - July to August

Length of the itinerary: 7 Days

Trek Level - Difficult, it is a necessity to be in good physical and mental shape.

Itinerary Highlights:

• Shrikhand Mahadev is situated at an height of 18,700 ft. above sea level in the Great Himalayan National Park of Himachal Pradesh, India
• Make sure to carry a light weighted water bottle and a lot of energy bars, Energy drinks, Oral Rehydration Salts, dry fruits.
• The trek starts from Jaon village in Nirmand region of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh, porters can be arranged from this location.
• Make sure to purchase trekking gear, shoes/boots, caps before hand or at Shimla (nearest)
• Beautiful Apple Orchards can be found in Jaon Village and Singh Ghat
• Beautiful view of mountains and clouds can be seen from Valley of Flowers
• After crossing Thachru Village, most of the hills are at an angle of 75 degree steep
• First view of the Shrikhand Mahadev can be seen from Kaali Ghati during morning hours
• Bheem Dwari has a number of beautiful waterfalls from hills covered in snow
• After crossing Parvati Bag, a number of Rock hills start with clouds at ground level, giving you a view that can be seen from an aeroplane
• This Cloud Store can be seen from Bheem Paudi
• At the end of the trek you can see a mammoth Rock-made Shivalingam on the mountain.
• The Shivalingam is 72 Feet hight and stands still on a mountain top above 18000 feet altitude.

Checkout Vijay Sharma's interesting post about this trek at https://phototravelings.blogspot.in/2008/07/shrikhand-mahadev-25th-30th-july-2008.html

Vijay's Blog : www.travellingcamera.com

More can be read about Vijay Sharma and his team at https://phototravelings.blogspot.in/p/team.html

#trek #adventure #HimachalPradesh #camping #snow #pilgrimage #pilgrims #religion #Shiva #Shivling #Shimla #Shivalingam #Hills #mountain #cloud #Shrikhand #Mahadev #ShrikhandMahadev #VJSharma #TravellingCamera #TheMusafirStories

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Vibha Ravi, a Mumbai-based independent writer, journalist and a travel professional. She has written travel articles for Lonely Planet Magazine (India), Moneycontrol and Thomas Cook (India). Vibha has an amazing travel blog called PixelVoyages that has very interesting posts about various Indian and International destinations.

Join us as Vibha takes us with her to explore Shekhawati!

Today's destination: Shekhawati, Rajasthan

Nearest Airport: Jaipur, Rajasthan

Nearest Railway Station : Jaipur, Rajasthan

Packing - Pack light weighted cool clothes, sun screen and a camera!

Time of the year - November-Feburary

Length of the itinerary: 4 Days

Checkout Vibha's interesting post about Shekhawati: https://pixelvoyages.com/2015/12/17/shekhawatis-havelis-an-architectural-perspective-and-brief-travel-guide/

Vibha's Blog : https://pixelvoyages.com/

#PixelVoyages #TheMusafirStories #Shekhawati #Haveli #Fresco #Rajasthan #Rajput #Fatehpur #Nawalgarh #Jhunjhunu #Mandawa #paint #wallPainting

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Neelendra Nath, a London based Management Consultant, Startup Evangelist and a blogger who writes at http://travelwithneel.com/ Neel has some very interesting post about travel, work and the world around!

Join us as Neel takes us with him to explore the ruins of Mandu!

Today's destination: Mandu / Mandavgad, Madhya Pradesh

Nearest Airport: Indore, Madhya Pradesh

Nearest Railway Station : Indore, Madhya Pradesh

Packing - Pack light weighted cool clothes, sun screen and a camera!

Time of the year - November to February

Time of the year Neal travelled: March

Length of the itinerary:

Checkout Neel's photos of Mandu: https://www.facebook.com/neelendra.nath/mediaset?set=a.10153927164244852.1073741878.803299851&type=1&l=0e55c71b6d https://www.facebook.com/neelendra.nath/mediaset?set=a.10153922792369852.1073741877.803299851&type=1&l=b9431f1900 https://www.facebook.com/neelendra.nath/media_set?set=a.10153935438764852.1073741879.803299851&type=1&l=d9deea0e51

Neel's Blog : http://travelwithneel.com/ Instagram: @TravelwithNeel Twitter: @ithrahim

#MadhyaPradesh #Madhya #Pradesh #Mandu #Mandav #Dhar #Malwa #Neelendra #Nath #NeelNath #TheMusafirStories #Travel #History #Vacation #Story #Old #Ruins #Love #War #Mughal #Forts #Pillars #LordOfTheRings #Roopmati #BaazBahadur #Narmada #River

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This week The Musafir Stories talk to Mary Ann Thomas and Daniel Baylis, two bicyclists from North America who have been bicycle touring across India.

Follow Mary Ann's journey on Instagram on :

https://instagram.com/postcardsfrommat Follow her blog at http://postcardsfrommat.com/

Follow Daniel's work on http://www.danielbaylis.ca/ Follow the journey on www.strava.com/danielbaylis www.warmshowers.org #India #Cycling #Touring #MaryAnnThomas #America #DanielBaylis #Canada #PostcardsFromMAT #Culture #People #Explore #Leh #Kolkata #Kanyakumari #Road #Trip #warmshowers.org

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Swati Sinha from the blog Recipe for Travel! Swati is a working professional based in Bangalore, who blogs about her travel and experiences, with the aim of sharing and enjoying these experiences with more people.

Today's destination: Shimla aboard the Kalka-Shimla toy train

Nearest Airport: Chandigarh
Nearest Railway Station: Kalka

Prerequisities - The booking of the Kalka Shimla trains opens only a month in advance, so it maybe useful to work with a travel agent to book tickets.

Packing - Warm clothes for the higher altitudes, pills for motion sickness may be useful.

Time of the year - April

Length of the itinerary: 5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• The journey is kickstarted by flying in to Chandigarh, where Swati spends a day with her family exploring the famous Rock garden and Sukhna lake. Pal's Dhaba is a must stop eatery!
• Leave for Kalka early morning to board the UNESCO world hertiage site declared Kalka-Shimla heritage train. The train is a meter gauge that covers about 100kms passing through 102 tunnels and innumerable bridges. Interesting legends around the Barog tunnel!
• Arrive at Shimla in the second half of the day and explore the Mall road and surrounding areas!
• Start early for the heritage walk next morning, organized by Sumit Vashisht from Shimla walks! Important stops at the Christ church by the ridge, State library, Bandstand, General post office, Scandal point, Vice regal lodge and President nivas.
• Spend the rest of the day exploring Anna dale and Jhaako temple which is home to the 108 foot Hanuman statue towering over Shimla
• Spend the final day exploring Chail and the Kaali ka tibba before returning to Shimla!

Links:

Swati's blog - http://www.recipe4travel.com/ Instagram - @recipe4travel Twitter - @recipe4travel facebook - https://www.facebook.com/recipe4travel/

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Saumy Nagayach, a Pune based blogger, photographer and full time software engineer who loves writing poetry as much as he loves writing code. So sit back and enjoy as Saumy takes us to explore some of the hidden gems of Madhya Pradesh

Today's destination: Dhar, Madhya Pradesh

Nearest Airport: Indore, MP
Nearest Railway Station: Mhow, MP

Prerequisities - N/A

Packing - Pack light, weather can be hot in summers.

Time of the year - December

Length of the itinerary: One can do a day trip to Dhar, or spread it over two days to cover the place at a slow pace. Overall 5 day itinerary covering Dhar, Mandu, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Ujjain

Itinerary Highlights:

• Start off with the majestic Dhar fort, built by Mohammed bin Tughluq, in the 14th century. The fort is built of red stone and is located on a small hill. The walls of the fort can easily be seen from a good distance.
  
• Places of interest are the Kharbuja mahal, in the shape of a musk melon, which was built inside the fort and is best known as the place where last Peshwa i.e. Bajirao II of Maratha Empire was born. From Kharbuja palace, one can see the whole city and Munj Sagar lake. The Munj Sagar lake was excavated by Raja Bhoja's uncle Vakpati Munja in 10th century
• Check out the district archaelogical museum within the fort campus - it is one of the oldest museums in MP, built in the year 1902.
• Next stop is the Bhoj Shala, built by the great Raja Bhoj, is a center for learning. The pillars and walls have stone carvings and people say that Raja Bhoj had written some literature/grammar/poetics there.Some of the Sanskrit inscriptions of those times were found in 1903 by an expert and then he researched more about it and gave this place the name "Bhoj Shala".
• Lat Masjid is another point of interest which is unique in the sense that the mosque was built in 1405 by Dilawar Khan from the ruins of Hindu and Jain temples. An iron pillar used to be there which is now broken and is displayed outside the Mosque (the mosque is named after this iron "lat" pillar).
• Make a quick stop at the Phadke studio. Raghunath Krishna Phadke was an Indian artist and many of his artifacts are installed at several places in India. Phadke taught the clay art to many of his students and a lot of his works can be seen at Phadke Studio, Dhar
• Don't forget to grab some poha and poha jalebi for the road!

Links:

Link to Saumy's blog - www.saumynagayach.blogspot.in

Link to the blog post - http://saumynagayach.blogspot.ae/2017/04/hidden-gems-of-madhya-pradesh-dhar.html

Twitter @saumynagayach

facebook - https://www.facebook.com/saumynagayach21/?pnref=lhc

email - saumynagayach@gmail.com

More about the guest -

A novice photographer, an enthusiastic blogger and an IT Engineer by profession. Saumy also loves to write poems and tell stories around pictures.

Photos featured in: National Geographic Traveller India Well known Instagram accounts like Maharashtraig, SplendidIndia, Discover_India. Some of the best Travel/Photography Blogs of India.

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sachin Bhandary from Eccentrips. Sachin is building a startup that focuses on long term purposeful travel. Listen to Sachin talk more about his flip on the executive MBA - The 12 project and how he traversed India in 25 days and 25 trains, touching the 4 farthest railway stations - Kanyakumari (S), Ledo (E), Baramulla (N) and Okha (W)!

Today's destination: India!

Nearest Railway Station: Is not far away!

Prerequisities - confirmed railway tickets!

Packing - Pack light, make sure you carry locks for your bags!

Length of the itinerary: 25 days!

Itinerary Highlights:

• Sachin starts off on the journey from CST railway terminal, Mumbai
• Sachin heads towards the first milestone of the trip to the southern most tip of India - Kanyakumari, with stops at Sachin's native town, Udupi. Dont miss out savoring some delicious food on the Mandovi Express.
• Next head towards the east of India, Ledo in Assam. The journey includes traveling on the Vivek Express, the longest train journey in India. This leg is not without drama, so make sure you stay tuned!
• Head towards Baramulla in J&K as Sachin shares his experience with one of the locals in Srinagar where he spent a night
• Final leg towards Okha in Gujarat as Sachin battles to stay sane and physically fit on this exhausing journey

Links:

Link to the blogpost: http://www.eccentrips.com/25days25trains/

Twitter: @eccentricsachin facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eccentrips/?ref=br_rs contently: sachinbhandary.contently.com

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Chittra from the Masala Box, a blog where she shares her travels and adventures along with other musings of life!

Today's destination: Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Nearest Airport: Jabalpur

Nearest Railway Station: Umaria

Prerequisities - make sure to book your tickets for the safari as well as lodging well before time as it tends to fill up fast.

Packing - Dont forget to carry your camera! Bug repellants are also a good idea along with sunscreen and shades.

Length of the itinerary: 2 days

Lodging at: Tiger's den resort

Itinerary Highlights:

• Chittra gives us a run down of her experience about getting to Bandhavgarh national park and her tryst with the big cat.

• Chittra did two safaris during her visit to Bandhavgarh, an evening safari and a morning safari. They booked a jeep for both safaris.

• Blessed with a great guide and driver, Chittra set off on her expedition into Bandhavgarh.

• The evening Safari was not very eventful but Chittra still manages to catch a bunch of Langoors, wild dogs, deer and some birds.

• The morning safari starts early in the morning, so be sure to be out by 5 am in order to get ahead of the pack.

• After listening to some calls by langoors and deer, Chittra and her group decide to wait it out close to a place where they spot some pug marks as the group heard to interesting stories of Sita and Charger from the guide!

• After an hour long wait, Chittra was lucky to capture one of her best shots to date, a tiger with a kill that walks past her jeep. It was Spotty, the mother tigress who was taking the kill to her cubs. A sight most of us aren't lucky enough to catch!

• Chittra shares other tips while travelling to national parks and things to avoid.

Links:

Link to the blog post: http://masalabox.co.in/spotting-tiger-bandhavgarh-national-park/

Link to Chittra's blog: www.masalabox.co.in

Link to the MP forest dept: www.forest.mponline.gov.in

Link to the lodging: www.tigerdenbandhavgarh.com

More about the Guest:

Chittra is an avid traveler who has been criss-crossing the map exploring new places, tasting different cuisines and constantly trying to understand different cultures of the place. Masalabox is not just a manifestation of her travel diaries and journals but also features quite a few funny anecdotes that encountered during her travels, some memorable moments from life, some moments of angst on the society, and some opinions on everything in the world! She also does a section on movie/play reviews called 'Musings of Life'. So sit back and enjoy as we unravel the stories in the masala box.

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sarmistha Ghosh, from the blog Footloosein.me. Sarmistha is based in Pune and has extensively covered the state of Maharashtra as well as other Indian destiantions. In Sarmistha's own words - “You can always make money, but you can’t always make memories”. She wants to make the world her home and does not want to be confined to one place.  Today's destination: Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra    Nearest Airport: Ratnagiri airport Nearest Railway Station: Ratnagiri Prerequisities - n/a Packing - Pack light for a roadtrip. Make sure to carry enough sunscreen and shades. And save plenty of rooom in your car for MANGOES! Time of the year - Summer time for the mangoes, winters for the views! Length of the itinerary: One week Itinerary Highlights:  - Sarmistha starts off on her roadtrip from Pune, the first stop being Harihareshwar for the beach views! Below are the trip highlights: Harihareshwar (part of Raigad district) - Beautiful views of the casuarina lined beach - Two temples  Kalabhairav and Lord Shiva - Shriwardhan beach nearby is also popular for a variety of activities - MTDC resorts and hotels are conveniently located Anjarle - Another popular place for beaches with great views of the shoreline - The beach leads to the estuary of the river Jog, that is complimented by each side with mangrove forests. The Alphonso mangoes, also revered as the King of all fruits are found in abundance! - Cashew nut and mango trees line either side of the river Jog - Kadyawarcha ganapati temple is another popular attraction Harnai - This harbor town is famous for the fish market - Kanakadurga fort is a prominent attraction here. It was built to connect to the Suvarnadurga fort, another sea fort. There is a beautiful lighthouse here that you can visit.  - Suvarnadurga fort is on a hilly island and you'll have to take a ferry ride to get there - Visit the fish market to get a see fresh catch being auctioned by fishermen Karde - More beach views, this time a rocky beach which offers water sports. Great views of the moonlit beach from Sarmistha's accommodation. - Dolphin rides available from the beach.   - Sample the tasty local cuisine like 'Kombdi vade' - vada/puri with chicken is another speciality - ‘Solkadhi’ a digestive drink made of coconut milk and kokum. - 'Modhak' or a special kind of sweet that resembles dumplings, only much more savory! Guhagar - The Anjanvel fort or the Gopalgad Fort along with the lighthouse are places not to be missed - Experience home made konkani food with the likes of ‘gharghuti jewan’ (home-made meal), Gavran komdi (country chicken) and sea food like prawns, crabs, pomphret and other varieties of fish. - Tolekeshwar temple, Dashabhuja Ganesh Temple  and Velneshwar Temple are prominent temples of this region.  - Take the Tavsal ferry to get you across to the Jaigad creek and the Jaigad fort.  Ganpatipule - Famous for the temple of Ganapati that is located on the beach (Adevade beach).There is a Mushakraj idol at the entrance of the temple (mouse gaurding the temple) - A number of leisure activities are on offer at the beach.  - Lodging close to the Arevare beach with some beautiful views Ratnagiri - Make sure to have a pitstop at Ratnagiri city (a port city within the Ratnagiri district.) - Famous for the Ratnadurg/Bhagwati fort and the lighthouse - There are a number of mangrove forests and coconut trees all along the route to the fort. - Thibaw palace, King Thibaw deported from Burma in 1885 is also located here.

Links:

Link to Sarmistha's blog: https://footloosein.me/about/destinations/ratnagiri/   Twitter: @footlooseinme facebook: @footlooseinme Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories  Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Neeharika Satyavada who is a digital strategist turned blogger from Hyderabad! Sit back and enjoy as Neeharika takes us on a roadtrip through Karimnagar!

Today's destination: Karimnagar, TS

Nearest Airport: Rajiv Gandhi Intl airport, Hyderabad

Nearest Railway Station: Karimnagar railway station

Prerequisities - n/a

Packing - comfortable clothes and shoes as there might be some climbing to do at the forts!

Time of the year - Monsoons is the best season to go see the forts and ruins surrounded by shades of green.

Length of the itinerary: 2 days

Itinerary Highlights:

Day 1

Molangur Fort

• Built during the reign of Kakatiya dynasty/ Prathapa Rudra: 1163 - 1195 (12th centry)

• This is also a transit point between Warangal and Elgandal

• The fort is located on a granite hill and has unfortunately been a victim of incessant quarrying. Still no concrete efforts to stop the degradation

• The fort also houses the Molang Shah dargah, named after a famous saint who visited the region

• Additionally, two temples dedicated to lord Shiva are also present so is a well famously called as Doodh bawli

Elgandal Fort

• This is a magnificent fort on the banks of Manair river

• It is famous for 3 minars that gives us some insight into the architecture of the kakatiya dynasty. The minars are a part of a mosque situated right on top of the fort.

• There is also a small Hanuman temple while scaling up the fort steps which is functional.

• The fort was eventually occupied by Qutub Shahi dynasty, the Moghuls and Nizams after a period of rule under the Kakatiyas and Bahamanis.

• The fort was rebuilt in 1754 AD by Zafaruddhaula during the reign of Sikendar Jha. - Karimuddin was a khilledar and Karimnagar was named after him, gives us an idea of the significance of the fort and the rulers.

• After spending the second half of the day at Elgandal, you can head back to Karimnagar town for lodging. The town also boasts of some silver filigry work and miniatures of charminar and other monuments. After spending the night at Karimnagar, you can head off to visit more temples on Day 2

Day 2

Manthani ruins

• This historical place is also known as Mantrapuri or village of hymns, center for vedic learning

• It is famous for the Gautameshwar temple with Shiva as the residing deity.

• The ruins have an eerie look about them, specially during the monsoons when the area is covered by lush green grass and moss. Situated on the banks of river godavari adds to the great views at the temple

• This place has been famous as the home to 1000 brahmin families, often refered to as house of mantras (hymns)

• The ruins are reminiscent of the scens from the Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book (Indian version) where Mowgli ends up a the ruins of the ancient temple.

Nagnur ruins

• These ruins are of Kakatiya and Kalyana temples, some built by the Chalukyas

• The mainstay of the area is the Trikuta temple (3 idols of Shiva)

• Lord Shiva is the residing god of the Trikuta temple. The temple is currently being restored and conserved.

Other places of interest:

• Dhulikatta (buddhist shrine) which has relics and stupas attributed to Buddhism.

Links:

Link to the blog post: https://mapinmypocket.com/2016/08/15/road-tripping-through-karimnagar/

https://mapinmypocket.com/2017/04/26/town-of-hymns-manthani/

https://mapinmypocket.com/2017/04/12/lost-in-time-nagunur-ruins/

More about the Guest: You can also reach out to Neeharika on her social media handles

Twitter: @mapinmypocket

Facebook: @mapinmypocket

Instagram: @mapinmypocket

website: www.mapinmypodcket.com

email: neeharika.satyawada@gmail.com

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Twitter: @musafirstories

Facebook: @themusafirstories

Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.