Cobblestone Chronicles

View of the snow-capped Dhauladhar ranges from Billing. You would be surprised by the vast number of clandestine suburbs Himachal Pradesh is an abode to. While places like Kutla , Barot, and Bhunbuni are few where natural bounties are copious, there are also few destinations in the ‘dev bhoomi (Land of God)’ of India where the mountains kiss the sky, which are meant to fly, and I mean that quite literally! Tucked away in the valleys of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, are the hamlets of Bir and Billing; and even with a treacherous mountainous roadway of 14 kilometre between them, these towns are almost always referred to as one, and for a good reason too! Back in 2015, Bir-Billing witnessed the International Paragliding World Cup. Ever since, these towns have attracted colossal crowds. However, Bir-Billing are more than just paragliding destinations; for me, I will often remember this place as the home to some of the most serene locales – some poised and placid meadows, a multit...

When looking for some of the most beautiful destinations in south India, in search of serene country-side respite, Coorg finds its place somewhere right at the top of that list! For a moment, imagine yourself to be in this delectable borough in the Madikeri district of Karnataka. The invigorating wind whips your hair as you ramble along the byways that rise and dive amidst the thicket. Breathtaking glimpses of the Tandiyandamol peak take you aback in bewilderment as you sniff appreciatively the heady fragrance of coffee blossoms. The place is surrounded by lush green landscape, offers a peaceful environment, is home to some of the friendliest people in India and perhaps the highlight, is the birthplace of some of the finest coffee that one might ever savour. Welcome to Coorg, fellow travellers! The magic of Coorg begins to unfold as one starts their journey from the low-lying town of Kushalnagar towards Madikeri – the town-centre of Coorg. The dwindling road a...

Back in 1944, the blood-soaked beaches of Normandy stood as a representation of just how brutal World War II really was, and served as a background for many-a-battle, the most famous of which is the seaborne invasion on D-Day. Jumpcut to today, Normandy’s beaches have become the go-to summer destination for tourists. The northwestern coastline of France is blessed with sprawling beaches of white sand and pebbles, with favourable weather making it a very viable option for visitors. As one leaves Paris and enters the province, the Seine river which is once surrounded by the iconic architecture of the French capital begins to be surrounded by lush green meadows and quaint settlements, a completely different aesthetic to that of the city, but very refreshing in its own right. The port of Le Havre is one of the biggest cities in the province, and along with its own beach serves as a gateway to many other beaches in Normandy. One of these is the town of Etretat. Not as renowne...

The Austrian town of Hallstatt Set aside from the grandeur and the classic Viennese coffee and Sachertorte of the Austrian capital, nestled within the Salzkammergut mountains is the early Iron Age town of Hallstatt. This lakeside market town is home to one of the world’s oldest salt mines, and the Hallstattersee lake itself is the starting point for the world’s oldest industrial pipeline, which is operational to this date. Sounds like a very mundane run-of-the-mill industrial town, but do not let the initial description of the place deceive you. Hallstatt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and having now become one of the most visited destinations, was recently popularised as the most Instagrammable town in the world. Ebensee Eager to see what the hype is all about, we boarded a train to Hallstatt from Vienna early in the morning. A late January winter’s day saw our view from the train transition from lush green meadows to an endless white carpet of fresh sno...

Hampi, with all its temples, palaces and fortresses in balletic ruins, exemplifies the rich cultural, architectural, cosmopolitan, and historical legacy of the Vijayanagara Empire, which once thrived on these very banks of the Tungabhadra river. Most of the people do not associate the ancient ruins of Hampi, detritus of the civilisation along the banks of the Tungabhadra river, with the same reverence and grandeur as the ruins along the Indus or other timeworn vestiges. Hampi was the former capital of the Karnataka Empire, established around 1336 A.D, having collapsed some time in the seventeenth century, and has a rich history representing the formulation, glory and finally, the demise of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is a place that, in its own way, has a presence – a personality, a charisma, as one might say, put together in form of rubble, remnants and records! Just ten kilometre from the town of Hospet, which is well connected by rail and road ways, Hampi ...

Cape Town From being a strategic port for the Dutch and then the British in the past, to being the driver of South Africa’s tourism industry and being of great importance to the country’s working economy, nestled between the South Atlantic Ocean and the gigantic Table Mountain lies the versatile city of Cape Town. Cape Town is a kaleidoscope of shifting emotions and cultures. The road along the Atlantic coast slowly but surely transitions from the relatively relaxed beaches to the turbulently busy waterfront area as one gradually enters the city centre. The beauty of Cape Town truly lies within its diversity, from the sprawling beaches of Clifton and Tableview to name a few, to the macabre vibe of Robben Island’s old prison that once held South Africa’s greatest icon in Nelson Mandela, the long-stretching vineyards on the Cape Peninsula and the amalgamation of British, Dutch and South African cultures. Despite the change in scenery associated with different parts of the c...