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Lavasa trip, the Portofino of India – A visit to the picturesque lake town where tourists are the only ‘locals’
Recently, on a lazy weekend we went for a Lavasa trip from Mumbai. I (Tania) still remember gawking at the giant full-page newspaper advertisements of Lavasa city, a boutique city near Pune. I was a mere child in high school then. My father expressed interest in buying an apartment there but we were way poorer to afford anything so luxurious. Fast-forward a decade (almost) and I was standing on the soil of Lavasa. No, we didn’t get rich or anything. Unfortunately my life is no movie. I just happened to migrate to Mumbai and Lavasa is doable from the city. I never imagined I will say this but after visiting…
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6 Secrets of Kerala – Things to do and best places to visit in Kerala
Unearth the less known parts and experiences of Kerala. It involves the peaceful stretch of backwaters, the once in 12 years flower bloom of neelakurinji and the homemade chocolates!
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Fanaspada, Kharghar Waterfall – Two wildlings chasing wilderness in a city
In the monsoon of 2017, Kharghar, a locality near Mumbai in India pleased us in many ways. The Kharghar waterfall area has a role to play in it. Our first attempt of getting close to the most popular waterfall in Kharghar failed. So the second time, we attempted getting close to the second most popular waterfall in Kharghar. Husband had been here once before in 2016, so he was very confident it would be a success this time. I know there are people who live in Kharghar yet they have no idea about the existence of this seasonal cascade. Pandavkada, the most popular one is famous owing to its location.…
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Kharghar Hills in Monsoon – Tale of two Bengalis with tummy full of Biryani on a hilltop in the lashing rain
Kharghar is a part of Navi Mumbai, India. Those in Mumbai may frown a bit when I drop the ‘Navi’ and call Kharghar just a part of Mumbai, but for everyone else, it doesn’t matter much. The Kharghar hills wear a coat of green in monsoon. A local train on harbour line from CST (ChattrapatiShivaji Terminus) station of Mumbai takes around one hour and fifteen minutes to reach Kharghar. Technically, it is a valley surrounded by hills; hills with cute heights, not the high ones. The golf course and the Central Park opposite to each other are the lungs of this suburb. The south to north running hills along the…
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Chowmahalla Palace – A date with palatial Hyderabad
Our self designed walking tour in Hyderabad brought us to the Chowmahalla Palace. In the erstwhile era, Hyderabad was ruled by the nizams. Chowmahalla Palace served as the seat of the nizam rule. ‘Chow’ means four and ‘mahal’ means palace; no wonder there are four palaces in the compound of Chowmahalla Palace. Its architecture was inspired by the palace of the Shah of Iran. There is a very interesting story behind the rise, fall and ‘fight back’ history of the palace. I wonder how a movie has still not been made on it. Like many of the royal families in India, the Asaf Jahi dynasty’s surviving heir, or the owner…
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Experience the essence of Asia with these 5 must-see destinations
There’s simply no denying Asia is one of, if not the best region in the world for travelling. With so many varying countries to discover and so much culture to be experienced, it’s only natural you want to visit. With that being said, here are 5 must-see destinations to ensure you experience the essence of Asia. Delhi, India If you want to experience a city that truly has it all, Delhi is the place to go. India’s capital doesn’t even slightly underwhelm in its offerings, a visit often proving to be a sensory overload. From delectable food to colourful festivals, from friendly locals to an abundance of incredible sights, Delhi has…
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Tasse de Thé – Renaissance of Tea Culture in Mumbai, India
“Tea connoisseur”. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear these two words? “It’s a British thing,” my mind talks back to me. It took me 26 years and a briefing from the son of a true tea connoisseur, to get out of the illusion. Rohak Sheth, son of Jiten Sheth, the founder of Tasse de Thé , explained to me that it was the French who started the practice of having tea as a meal. Under the regime of Queen Victoria, it was introduced in Great Britain. The men behind the brand Tasse de Thé Mr. Jiten Sheth, the owner of Tasse de Thé…
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Urby, An affordable luxury – A personalised passport holder India can be proud of
We were in the wilderness of Maharashtra. Husband was away on some work and I was alone. The thought of a personalised passport holder India can be proud of was the last thing on my mind. “If I am late one more minute, the waiters and cooks will latch the dining hall and leave for their homes. I will miss lunch,” I thought to myself. It is not a good idea to miss lunch when I am acres away from proper civilization and without any food stock. It was 1:30 PM when I opened the door of our room. I took my first step outside and froze. A giant green…
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Bari Village, Maharashtra: Experiencing the three ‘H’- Hut, Hospitality and Homestay
In 2016 the husband went on his life’s first trek. It was Kalsubai, the highest point in Maharashtra, India. When he showed me the humble photos clicked on his cellphone, the first thing I remember asking him was the name of the base village. “Bari village,” he replied. He went on a ‘pre-arranged group trek’ with a gang of around 40 trekkers. The downside of going on group tours is that you miss out on the one-to-one conversations with locals. Locals rarely approach a large group of travellers for casual chat without any self interest. Things are different when you are vulnerable. So on August 2017, me and the husband…
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Olfactory and Visual Feasts on the Streets of Hyderabad: Laad Bazar and Pathhargatti
I recalled a faint memory of a man trying out different perfumes in a market of one of the Indian towns. The man was on TV. I don’t remember the channel, may be Discovery or National Geographic. The city was Hyderabad, the place was Laad bazar. Years later, when I got a chance to visit Hyderabad, I made sure I didn’t miss discovering the unique aromas of the city. Travelling in the old city of Hyderabad is not an easy task for a person foreign to the mechanics of the city. Firstly, the streets and alleys are no short of a maze. Secondly, transport is snail slow. Trains are not…
