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Sidi Saiyyed Mosque : The bloom of a stone
“Honk honk,” the autos blare. We pull ourselves together and trudge along, drained after attending Ahmedabad’s heritage walk. Our eyes fix on the modest sandstone structure which stands without much ado in the centre of the road— Sidi Saiyyed Mosque. Apparently the humble mosque has lent its art to become an icon of the city of Ahmedabad. Sidi Saiyyed Mosque stands like a true leader who reserves a place of importance in the community but never asserts his power over his subjects, but instead, lives a modest life. It is a living mosque where prayers are still held. The emerald green waters of the ablution pool reflect the imposing crown…
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The Lure of the Arabian Sea – Ganpatipule beach, Maharashtra
If you are seeking solitude and peace then Ganpatipule, a Konkan coastal village approximately 300 kilometres away from Mumbai can give you the much needed relaxation.
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Kalsubai trek: On top of Maharashtra
“Bye, happy journey. Come back soon,” our hosts shouted out to us when we left for Kalsubai trek. Shades of grey adorned the sky. The storminess of the weather catalysed our willpower to scale Kalsubai. Little boys and girls were going to school. On the two sides of the road, lush greenery extended for miles. It was difficult to separate the grasses from patches of paddy fields. Rain drenched trees populated the slopes of the hill. Dhoti-clad men donning white caps were walking on the village path with us. Bari village is really tiny, abruptly rising around the vicinity of the temple and ending on the bank of a seasonal…
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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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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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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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When Maharashtra Blooms: Kas Pathar Satara, Deccan India’s Valley of Flowers
“Hey, so what are you planning as your next destination?” asked our friend. “Did you say plan? Oh I am a great planner. But, the universe seems to dislike the planned version of me,” I replied. In 2013 I was trying to plan a hiking trip to the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand. Two months prior to its execution, India saw one of its worst natural calamities. Multiday cloudbursts in Uttarakhand killed thousands of people, animals, and destroyed roads and trails. In 2016, from the Facebook group Globetrotting Girls India, I got to know about Kas Pathar, another valley, or more accurately, plateau, of flowers near Satara city of Maharashtra.…
