Cobblestone Chronicles

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 ...

The Sahyadris carry with them a unique charisma - a charm that separates these acclivities from the rest of India's mountain ranges. Usually quite arid in the summer, these hills wrap themselves in a lush green thicket as soon as the first rains hit the mountain tops - changing their face in a rather drastic fashion! And as the monsoon gradually retreats, paving way for the frosty winters, these ranges open up for a whole new experience - quite invigorating indeed: greenery all over, but with blue skies above, bright sunshine prevails, but never do you feel uncomfortably hot! This was the time when I trekked to Harishchandragad, one of the toughest, longest and perhaps, the most  ‘intimidating’ trek in the Sahyadris. However, while the whole experience was quite taxing, it was indeed one of the most surreal treks I have ever done! We started our journey from Pune, my hometown, at around 2am, with an intention to start the trek by early morning. After almost three hours...

You won’t believe me at first when I say, we’ve known the mystic land of Pench ever since we were little kids. We loved every bit of how fiction and reality interlaced, weaving an age old story of the adventurous little Mowgli and his wild friends who found comfort in the wilderness, swayed from branches all day, fought the mighty Shere Khan and went after the Red Flower! Take a peek into your childhood days when watching the venturesome Mowgli on TV made you smile. I remember how diligently I never missed an episode! In the cartoon, Mowgli’s home was the astounding forest of Pench, a place that inspired Rudyard Kipling to pen down one of the most loved and appreciated work of children’s literature; The Jungle Book. I almost instantly fell in love with this jungle on my very first safari, understanding why Kipling had decided upon this very forest as the setting for his story. Nestled in the Chhindwara and Seoni districts of Madhya Pradesh, Pench National Park g...