Hooghly Imambara: grandeur of the yesteryears
An architectural masterpiece of the 19th century is the magnificent Hooghly Imbabara in the town of Hooghly situated in the state of West Bengal. Hooghly or Hooghly-Chinsura as it also…
Mysore: along a heritage trail
Easily one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, the heritage city of Mysore (recently renamed Mysuru) is synonomous with resplendent royalty, its larger than life Dasara festival, gorgeous…
The Portuguese connection: Loutolim, Goa
Think Goa and you might immediately connect with images of beaches and night life. But there is so much more to Goa than partying that you can discover in India’s…
Hyderabad: enamour of the Old city
Often called the city of pearls, the historic city of Hyderabad is truly multifaceted. While the booming IT industry in the last decade and a half has given the name…
Pondicherry: my top 5 favorite places and things to do
The union territory of Pondicherry located in South India is one of my favorite destinations for a holiday or a quick getaway. Also called Puducherry or just Pondy, this unique…
Rangasthala, Chikkaballapur: a tryst with history
India, also referred to many a time, as the country of temples has scores of enthralling temples, many of which are over 1000 years old. It is indeed amazing that…
Sunderbans – beyond the Bengal tiger
My maiden visit to Sunderbans, the only mangrove tiger land in the world was truly memorable for more reasons than one. Bestowed with natural beauty and magnificent scenery, the national…
Indigenous creativity: Idol makers of Kumartuli
One of India’s biggest and most colorful festivals Dusshera or Durga puja is celebrated in a variety of ways in different parts of the country. The festival is a riot…
Kolkata: the quintessential charm of the City of Joy
On my first visit to the second largest city of India, I quickly realized that Kolkata has a charm like none other. The cultural and intellectual capital of India presents…
Gangasagar: of holy confluence and religious heritage
Endless stretches of soft silver sand amidst clear skies and gentle winds greeted us as we approached the holy waters of Sagardwip or Gangasagar. The pristine beach waters were fairly…