The first time I set foot in Chandigarh, I was beyond impressed. A city with wide roads, an abundance of greenery, and well-planned areas for markets, restaurants, and schools – compared to the other Indian cities I had been to, this was like chalk and cheese. The city’s tagline ‘The…
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In 2003, a tiny Khasi village close to the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border shot to fame when it was declared the cleanest village in Asia. Mawlynnong, a village boasting a 90% literacy rate was home to villagers who understood and valued the importance of good civic sense. Soon, Mawlynnong became the model…
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For someone who has never been to Shillong before, figuring out where to stay can be a challenge. As I mentioned in my blog post about the things to do in Shillong, traffic in the capital city of Meghalaya is a nightmare and is comparable to what you would find…
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Crawling traffic, winding lanes, and mesmerizing views aside, Shillong offers a delightful array of cuisines, in addition to its own Khasi food (and other local food). It is quite the foodies’ paradise. The capital of one of the seven sister states of North East India – Meghalaya, this city has…
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A couple of decades ago, I, like most Indian kids, was introduced to Cherrapunji in school. Known as the ‘wettest place on earth,’ it conjured up images of days and nights of non-stop rain, kids playing in the puddles, gushing waterfalls, and dense greenery. I’ve had Cherrapunji on my bucket…
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The gorgeous hill station of Shillong is a fascinating place to spend a couple of days or even a couple of weeks. Unlike many hill stations in India that promise peace and quiet (Lonavala, Nainital, and Ooty, for example), the capital of the northeastern state of Meghalaya, is extremely commercialized,…
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Beside the mighty Brahmaputra river lies the biggest city in Assam – Guwahati. It is often regarded as the gateway to all of North-East India. The plains of Guwahati are not without their own charms – like the magnificent Kamakhya Temple, sunset by the Brahmaputra, and other city attractions like…
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Coffee enthusiast or not, Coorg, known as the ‘Coffee Cup of India’ has something to enchant every traveller. From rolling coffee plantations to delicious Kodava cuisine, gushing waterfalls to cute coffee houses – you can spend anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks unearthing the secrets of…
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The Konkan Coast is a treasure trove of biodiversity waiting to be admired. It continues to flourish as the monsoon breathes new life into the ghats. If the cool weather, occasional downpours, and lush greenery rejuvenate your spirit, a road trip along the Western Ghats should be on your agenda.…
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This June, I visited Kodagu/Coorg and stayed at 3 properties during my 8-day trip – the first of which was Island Homestay, Coorg. After an 8-hour drive from Goa to Coorg, I was looking forward to a couple of days soaking in the silence, and this little Airbnb, which is…
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The fast-paced urban life has made us lose touch, not just with ourselves, but also with nature. A study of 20000 people in 2019 showed that spending at least 2 hours every week in nature could drastically improve physical and mental well-being. These results remained the same despite differences in…
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