Cobblestone Chronicles

Dharamshala, alongside its sister-suburb, Mcleodganj, is perhaps the only place which packs a ton of birr, brought together by the breathtaking Himachal food, local shopping experience, treks, and scintillating mountain-sunrises! So here is a question - which is that one place which has often been known as the foxy concoction of culture, nature, food, and religion? I bet you won’t find many destinations with a blend so unique, with a brew so solitary, and with an identity so sui generis! Dharamshala is indeed the beating heart of Himachal Pradesh - being home to the bewitching cedar forests on the edge of the Himalayas, this city welcomes lost wanderers and excursionists alike, and surprisingly enough, entertains both the demographics.   A typical view from Dharamshala, with the phenomenal snow-clad Dhauladhars in the backdrop I travelled to Dharamshala following my weeklong backpacking respite in Bir-Billing . Having already experienced the hippodrome of nature’s bounty and advent...

The Land Down Under is the land of intrigue. Australia due to its geographical proximity to the rest of the world always comes off as a country with an X Factor, something different to what you’ll find across the mainland of Planet Earth. The glamour of travel in Australia is often associated with the megacities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, which is quite understandable given that they are the lynchpins of the country’s economy and attract the most visitors. However, the one city I was looking forward to the most when planning my trip was far away from the big 3, a substantially laid-back tropical beachside retreat of Cairns on the far north coast of the country. We kept Cairns for the very end of our trip, to spend a relaxing time after being blinded by the city lights from the other parts of Australia, and from the very minute we landed we were not disappointed. New South Wales and Victoria in the month of May are very cold, and it was very refreshing to be in a tropical ...

Ellora Caves. ©Flickr When we think of Ghats and Caves, the first thought that might spring to our minds is a tedious and dull journey of exploring these ancient structures with information, not more than what we might have read in books or studied earlier but, what seldom seems to intrigue us is what these ghats and caves might have been used for, how they were created and the trade routes that existed long before we did. They tell us about an era forgotten by many and impel us to think upon the history of our land, its unheard stories. A journey to these historical sites is more than just a day’s picnic and there is so much to learn about these magnificent sites as they convey tales of relics bygone. You would be surprised to know that Maharashtra has the most number of caves namely Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Karla and Kanheri, along with several others, serving as a symbol of varied influences. Each cave has a distinctive form of architecture, divergent features and spectacular art ...

City Palace, Jaipur I read somewhere recently - “Jaipur is the finest jewellery ever created on earth, where king was the jeweller and bricks his gems”, and how true! One always falls short of words while describing the generous charm that the city has to offer to every first timer and sometimes, even the locals. The culture, traditions, art, architecture, jewellery and textiles of Jaipur have always charmed the tourists . It is one city that, even after modernisation, still holds to its roots and values. I have a small ‘online tradition’ before I begin writing a new blog. I type in the destination (in this case) ‘Jaipur…’ on Wikipedia to see how my friend,  Wiki , auto fills my search. What follows is mostly a twinkling giggle and a subsequent state of utter dismay. Sharing a few examples of what I found online below. Relax, it is not a rant. Just a perspective. Now first of all, never go for the whole ‘1-day Itinerary’ tourism, otherwise you will never b...