The White Desert: Rann Of Kutch

The Land of the White Salt Desert and exquisite art and craft, Kutch is a quiet haven though often overshadowed by neighboring Rajasthan.
For quite some, we debated whether its white sand or salt... The vast stretches of the 'White Desert' didn't fail to mesmerize us.
The Great Rann of Kutch is the world’s largest salt desert that measures about 16,000 sq km. This means 16,000 sq km of absolutely blinding whiteness!

Nowhere in this world will you find a counterpart to this amazing piece of geography that turns marshy during the monsoons and then back to its brilliant white glory during the winters and summers.

The best time to visit Kutch is between November to March, during the Kutch Festival. And more preferably, during the full moon night, when the White Desert seems to be covered with a silver veil.

From Ahmedabad, it takes around 6-7 hours to reach Bhuj, (350 km approx), and from Bhuj to Kutch, its another 2 hours. There are frequent buses throughout the day, and trust me, the Gujarat State Transport is good, indeed!

Since the area is under the BSF, an inner-line permit is needed. If you are going by the State Bus, then you need not worry about it because they will only provide it to you. 

The festival brings forth the rich heritage and culture of the place, showcasing the Kutchi way of life.
 It is ideal to witness the creativity of the artisans and craftsmen, a different and rare genre of folk music, amidst the diverse ecology.

If you want to do desert camping, the best option is to pre-book the cottages, online. Gujarat Tourism has a wide range of offers for the tourists. But if it seems to be too much of a pocket-pinch, then stay at Bhuj, where you'll have ample cheap stay options.

Apart from the White Desert and the Festival, Kutch has a sanctuary where various species reside. The Wild Ass is found only in the Kutch Sanctuary, and nowhere else in the world. Thousands of migratory birds can also be seen.

Bhuj, the most important city of the Kutch Region,  is a paradise for tourists who are interested in purchasing handicrafts especially embroidered textiles. The city is a maze of alleys. Fine examples of Gujarati architecture can be found in the form of houses and temples. The major attractions in Bhuj are the Aina Mahal, bell tower in Prag Mahal, Kshtrapa inscriptions in the Kutch museum, which is believed to be the oldest museum in the region, see the characters of Ramayana inscribed on the wall near the steps at Ramkund and visit the Hamirsar Lake.

And as Amitabh Bachchan says in the Gujarat Tourism ad, the place is worth visiting once, if you want to see a different side of the country.


Happy Travelling!

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Ross and Smith Island: Off-beat Andaman

Just the word ‘Andaman Islands’ and breathtakingly beautiful pictures start forming in our mind. It is everything we imagine and more. Hundreds of tourists from all over the world now flock to the Andaman and crowd around in the must-visit more popular areas of the Radhanagar Beach, Ross Islands, etc. But if off-beat is what you love or you are craving for solitude and privacy, head to the twin-islands of Ross and Smith near Diglipur. Believe it or not, there is nothing that you can imagine that might match the experience you will have on this piece of heaven on earth.

The Ross-and-Smith Islands (not to be confused with the more famous Ross Islands with its beautiful ruins, bunker and helipad) are two tiny islands made up of virgin beaches bordered by tropical forests and dotted with a few beach chairs, tree houses and wooden changing rooms.

First, the uniqueness of these “twin islands” is that they are two separate islands connected by only a strip of white sand during low tide. During high tide, the sand strip disappears under the water and the two islands get isolated.

But the most amazing thing about this place that struck us was that the sea on the either side of the strip was completely different from each other. On one side, waves crash over pebbles with enough force to topple you over and skin your knees if you are distracted. On the other side the sea is a calm lagoon of water perfect for just a floating in the water, with tiny waves just enough to nudge you around for that extra-bit of pleasure.

Littered with only sea-shells, these islands had a mere 10 tourists in total when we visited and the engulfing solitude was an experience in itself where we let loose and fooled around more freely than we would have been comfortable with when on the more crowded beaches like Radhanagar.

Minute run into hours in the blink of an eye in the bliss of these islands – afterall, these islands are enchanted. Lazing around in the water, walking  barefoot over the fine sand from one island to the other and just soaking up the sun with your family around you takes up the entire day.

The experience of floating on your back in the unending deep blue water with your eyes scanning over the undulating emerald hillocks of the islands is truly an experience of a lifetime and something only these islands in the Andaman can provide. There are corals around as well in case you want to take your snorkelling kit with you and want to take a dive on your own.

Another reason to visit these islands is the boat ride from Diglipur Jetty. A tiny little motorised fisherman’s boat, just big enough to hold the four of us, bounced over the calm water all the way to the islands – with the wind in our hair and the spray of water in our face, we had the ride of our lives. And they drop you of on the heavenly beach itself.

If you are headed to Andaman anytime soon, plan an extra day for this detour. Saying that it is worth it would be an criminal understatement.

How to reach: Travel to Diglipur, make your way to the Jetty (Aerial Bay), and hire a boat for yourself and enjoy in the swaying 15 mins boat ride to the twin islands. Boats are easily available through the entire day.

P.S.: The roadside eating shacks in Diglipur serving austere Bengali dishes is to die for – I swear we insist people to visit Diglipur just for the food we had there.

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Delhi Diaries. Part 1

Delhi, the heart of India, has been the favorite city of people from all over the world. For centuries, the sedimentation and metamorphosis kept happening, adding to the richness of the city in every possible way.

I kept coming to the city from the time I was probably a year and a few months old, thanks to my aunt who stays here, and my cousins who kept attracting me during every vacation! The chapters of the history book also aroused tremendous interest and I kept planning about which all places to visit during the next trip!! But it was actually during my recent visits, during my college years, when I started discovering the real beauty of the city.

It's true, until and unless you start exploring the nooks and corners, walk down the streets and spend hours in those huge medieval period forts and monuments and tombs, you won't really get the feel of the place.

Architectural Grandeur...

The Sultans and the Mughals had a great taste of architecture, and Delhi will never fail to give you a taste of it. No matter how many times I visit these places, they still keep surprising me, and I keep wondering how these were built at that time, when the science of construction wasn't as developed!!

Qutub Minar build during the Sultanate period, or Red Fort and Jama Masjid build by Shah Jahan are no doubt mesmerizing, and far more attractive than how the text books make them look like, but there are several other tombs and monuments which somehow failed to make their space in the text books. The Mehrauli Archaeological Park, which is a few minutes’ walk from Qutub Minar is something that left me awestruck. There are ruins of nearly 8 tombs, the Jamali Kamali mosque being one of them, and the whole walk through the forest is an experience in its own. It was a winter afternoon when i explored this hidden treasure with a friend, and the 3 hours walk was indeed bliss for a lover of history like me.

 Mehrauli archaeological park

The Hauz Khas Fort is another beautiful place to spend a lazy evening, looking at the green lake surrounding which the fort was being constructed. Humayun's tomb, Safdarjung tomb, India Gate, Bahai temple, Tughlaqabad fort, Purana Quila - each of these places has got a different charm, and holds a lot of stories, known and unknown!

Another hidden treasure is Agrasen ki Baoli, located at Hailey Road, near Cannaught Place, which is one of the busiest areas of the city. There are 150 stairs which takes you down to the bottom of the well, and if you can creep inside, somehow, you would get goosebumps feeling the eerie silence and listening to your own breath!

 Agrasen-ki-baoli

Cultural richness...

 Delhi still holds on to its cultural richness and heritage.

On a Thursday evening, the breathtaking Qawali performance by Ali Brothers at Nizamuddin dargah is something one shouldn't ever miss. Walking down that narrow gali, with the lingering fragrance of rose petals all over, and the crowd of people from all over the world makes the ambiance extremely lively. Sufi music has that blissful effect, makes you connect to something supernatural...

Nizamuddin Dargah

And the Friday namaz at Jama Masjid, which is another event worth watching. The whole area seems to get drenched in the uni-tone chants during dusk, making Allah listen to the prayers, it seems. The sacred month of Islamic Culture, Ramzan, is observed in Jama Masjid, where the Mosque hosts the Iftar, dinners after sunset and also Maghrib, which is the fourth required prayer of the day. You don't really need to be a follower of Islam to be a part of the celebration...

Jama Masjid

Food Fiesta..

Delhi has always been a food lover's paradise, be it the street food or the big restaurants, Delhi has never failed to win million hearts! The cosmopolitan outlook of Delhi culture is aptly reflected in the cuisine of Delhites. Punjabi cuisine and Mughlai delicacies like kababs and biryanis are popular in several parts of Delhi.

If you are in Old Delhi, then Paranthe-wali-gali and Kabab-gali are a must visit for you. The variety of paranthas and kababs, and lassi and firni will definitely make you fall in love with the food. Karims' is one of the most favourite restaurants here, where not only Indians, but even foreigners hop to binge on biriyani.

Majnu ka tilla, the Tibetan Refugee colony will serve you the best momos in the city at a pocket friendly rate.

If you are looking for some good restaurants then you can walk down Connaught place, or Hauz Khas village, and pick one depending on your choice of cuisine.

And if you want to try out food from different parts of the country, then Dilli Haat is the place for you, where you'll find all the states' shops, serving their authentic food.

And if you are looking for some continental or European cuisines at budget price, then the cafes at Paharganj are the best options for you.

Delhi is also famous for the street foods like chaats and aloo-tikkis, and chuski and jalebi, and so on and so forth. So, options to binge are numerous, and the choice is all yours!

Connaught place

No trip is complete without shopping, and Delhi will definitely tempt you to shop till you drop! Built in the 17th century by Shah Jahan, Chandni chowk even today is a teeming wholesale market selling everything from glass bangles to bulk spices.

Sarojini nagar market, Kamla Nagar Market, Janpath, Dilli Haat, Karol Bagh market, South-Ex market are some of the favorite places for tourists, offering cheap and good stuffs to pick.

For years, I kept coming back to this city, and now that I'm finally living here, the buzz and the cacophony of the city make me feel alive. There's something here that's special, and I don't really know what that is, and I don't try to hunt for an answer as well, for I'm happy with whatever the city has to offer me...

And to everyone out there who wants to fall in love with Delhi, should turn over the pages of City Of Djinns, by William Dalrymple, just to know more about the city, and its people and the life here... Time changes, but there are certain things that remain, and there lies the beauty...

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MUMBAI- The city that never sleeps

This travel story is shared by our fellow traveler Shubhashish Chaudhri.

Mumbai- THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS and won’t let you sleep as well.

I had never been to Mumbai alone so when got the chance to intern this time around that too in the month of JUNE i was really looking forward to it. Everyone told me that it won’t be easy as it’s that time of the year in MUMBAI when it starts to rain like hell. But anyways i said what the hell and decided to use these three weeks to my fullest in enjoying the city THAT NEVER SLEEPS.

I took up a PG in south Mumbai which is one of the most posh and absolutely best place one could get to live. The marine lines local station and the CST are both like walking distance from the PG. But the best thing about MUMBAI is we all know the night life and what better place than MARINE DRIVE . The entire stretch of the queen’s necklace which is 2.3 km is in itself a treat for all. You can just go and sit there and watch as the SEA has its own story to tell with the waves and the cool breeze that s just the best feeling in the world. You can find couples sitting all day and night and people conducting yoga sessions and laughing clubs. For people interested in booze and smoking up its the best place as you can just buy your stuff and sit there and there is no tension of any authority or anyone catching you.

Next we move in to KAYANIS cafe The restaurant has survived for a 102 years and has become quite a landmark. The ambience reeks of nostalgia and vintage: red chequered table cloths, waiters with parsi skull caps, menu cards displayed through the glass top, a blue rope hanging from the ceiling acting as a support for the missing railing for the stair case. Number of newspaper clippings and accolades adorn the wall. For a hundred bucks you can have an amazing evening and morning breakfast and you will feel satisfied.

Mumbai's most famous monument, this is the starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city.

Nearby Tourist Attractions

The ELEPHANTA CAVES-

The Elephanta Caves are located very close to the Gateway of India, and tourists can travel on motor boats to reach the Elephant Islands. Statues of the Maratha leader Shivaji and Swami Vivekananda are installed at the entrance of the Elephant Caves. The Taj Mahal Hotel is India's most prestigious and luxurious hotel and is situated close to the Gateway of India.


CRAWFORD MARKET-

The The major things to buy in Crawford Market are fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables.  As well as daily necessities also seasonal and luxury fruits and vegetables are to be found.  During the Alphonso Mango season (April-May) this is the place to get the largest range in the city. Also in the market, at the other end, there is a large pet animal market where dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, fish, parrots and songbirds are displayed and sold.
Elsewhere inside the market many small stalls also sell snack foods such as chocolates and biscuits.  You will find both international brands such as M&M and Toblerone as well as more local Indian ones such as Amul Chocolates and Comesum – Branded Indian Sweets & Namkeens.  Before the liberalization of trade in India Crawford Market was one of the main places to buy overseas brands.  Today it still sells many of those, often at discounts.

FASHION STREET-
Fashion Street is one of the most widespread shopping destinations in Mumbai. With over a varied array of 150 shops, Fashion Street promises the ardent shopper a lot more junk and knick-knacks than any large mall or fashionable stores can offer. Located opposite the VSNL office building on M.G. Road, the street is famous for the latest and the trendiest clothing lines in Mumbai. Even designer brands are available here at off-the-cuff prices. A variety of denims, shirts, accessories, hats, footwear and mini-restaurants can be found on this street. If you want to enjoy street side shopping in Mumbai, then there is nothing better than heading out to Fashion Street that promises a plethora of clothing and accessories and off-the-cuff prices. If you are a smart buyer and you know how to bargain, then Fashion Street might just be your 'Shangri-La'.


FOR HISTORY LOVERS-

The Prince of Wales Museum, now commonly known as 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya', was established during the early 20th century. This museum is considered as a heritage structure in Mumbai because of its admirable architecture. The Prince of Wales Museum is one of the most significant museums in India.

Chowpatty Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Mumbai. Located in the heart of the city, this beach is most popular for its local delicacies which most people enjoy whenever they visit Chowpatty Beach. Watching the glorious sunsets from this beach is a sight worth seeing! This beach is a retreat from a tedious routine for many. Most people visit this beach to relax after a long, tiring day. People of all age-groups come here to enjoy the scenic beauty offered by the beach. To experience a divine feeling, one can visit Chowpatty Beach anytime of the day. Crowd is considerably less during the wee hours of the mornings while evenings are just jam-packed. It is not a good idea to visit the beach during the monsoon season because high tides and water logging makes the place quite dangerous.

The Haji Ali Dargah is a historical landmark in Mumbai, and is also one of the most prestigious Islamic symbols situated in South Mumbai. Apart from visiting the Dargah, offering prayers and seeking the blessings of the saint, there are various other things to do in and around the Dargah. Local stalls outside the complex of the Haji Ali Dargah will give you the opportunity to indulge in some delicious local cuisine and local specialties such as Kebabs, Chaat, Ice-cream, Mughlai Biryani, Hyderabadi fast food and even American fast-food. The Haji Ali Dargah is a popular pilgrimage destination in Mumbai. Every week over thousands of devotees, Muslims and non-Muslims, flock the Dargah to seek the blessings of saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. Apart from its religious significance, the Haji Ali Dargah is famous for being pleasing to the eye and is the best place to head towards, if you are seeking solace and serenity.

Thank You so much Shubhashish Chaudhri for sharing such a lovely travelogue with us! :)

About Shubhashish Chaudhri

An avid food lover, loves reading like anything and a big MOVIE and English tv shows FREAK and going to new places even though i haven’t been to a lot of places but I intend on travelling through the entire country during my life. 

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A trip to Lahaul and Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh

A very few places on earth can mark so dramatic a change in landscape. To one side, the lush green head of the Kullu Valley; to the other, an awesome vista of bare, chocolate-colored mountains, hanging glaciers and snowfields that shine in the dazzlingly crisp light, with just flecks of flora deep in the valley to soften the stark image.

Lahaul Spiti has snow fed glaciers and barren mountains. Keylong is the headquarter of Lahaul-Spiti and oasis of green fields.The capital, Keylong, is an easy stop and you can detour to mountain villages and medieval monasteries that remain blissfully untouched by mass tourism.
The two valleys at Lahaul and Spiti have a tenous link over the Kunzam Pass ( 4,520 metres ).

Here is an exclusive travel itinerary along with some exceptionally beautiful photographs shared by our fellow traveler Supratim Pan who visited Lahaul and Spiti Valley recently.

In August I along with my six friends travelled to Lahaul and Spiti Valley to enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of mountains. Me along with this group visited to Ladakh in 2012 and this was our second adventurous trip to the Himalayas.
Here is a brief description of the trip

Day 1 (Friday) – Journey started from Kolkata
We have started our journey from Howrah by Kalka Mail (departure time 7:40 p.m)

Day 2 (Saturday) – in train
In train

Day 3 (Sunday) - Sarahan
- Reached Chandigarh at the early morning (around 4:00 a.m)
- Started our journey by Travera (already booked from Kolkata). This was the only car with us for the whole trip
- Checked in a hotel at Kalka for 2 hours to freshen up and started journey for Sarahan
- Reached Sarahan in the evening via Shimla. Stayed at the guest house inside the very famous Bhima Kali Temple

Day 4 (Monday) - Sangla
- Visit Bhima Kali Temple, Shrikhand View (Palace)
- Bird Sanctuary and Zoo were not visited by us
- Started journey to Sangla
- On the way visited Baspa Dam and had lunch at Narkanda
- Reached Sangla in the evening and stayed at Monal Residency
- Visited Sangla Monastery

Day 5 (Tuesday) - Kalpa
- Started journey for Chitkul. Had breakfast over there
- Went to Kalpa via Reckong Peoh. Had lunch at Reckong Peoh
- Reached Kalpa in the evening and stayed at Hotel Kinnar Villa. We could not see the Kinnaur-Kailash peaks due to cloud :(

Day 6 (Wednesday) - Tabo
- Started journey for Tabo. Had breakfast at Reckong Peoh.
- Visited Nako Lake on the way. Had lunch at Nako
- Reached Tabo in the evening and stayed at Keysang Guest House

Day 7 (Thursday) - Kaza
- Started journey for Kaza
- Visited Dhankar Monastery on the way
- Went to Pin Valley, one of the most beautiful places of our trip.
- Reached Kaza in the afternoon and stayed at Mandalla Guest House

Day 8 (Friday) - Lossar
- Visited Keh Monastery and Kibber Village (last village at China border)
- Came back to Kaza and had lunch over there
- Started journey to Lossar. Reached Lossar in the late evening and stayed at IPS Guest house, booked from DC Office of Kaza
- It was an awesome experience, stayed in the lap of mountains

Day 9 (Saturday) - Chandratal
- Started journey for Chandratal
- Reached Chandratal via Kunzum Pass.
- Had to trek for half an hour to reach Chandratal. The altitude was 14,500ft. Road was little up and down. This was the most fascinating place of our trip
- Went to Manali, reached in the late evening and stayed over there

Day 10 (Sunday) - Chandigarh
- Started journey for Chandigarh
- Reached Chandigarh via Kullu in late night and stayed over there
- Release the car (Travera) at Chandigarh


Day 11 (Monday) – Back to Kolkata
- Booked a car for Delhi
- Started in the morning and took evening flight for Kolkata


Road Condition
- Road condition was not so good
- Up to Tabo road was O.K but after that it was almost horrible. Actually there was almost no road.
- Had to cross some dangerous “Nala” (e.g. – Maling Nala) on the way
- But we could not feel the pain due to the overwhelming scenic beauty


Weather
- Weather was not so good
- Most of the time it was cloudy but we have not experienced heavy rain
- Due to the cloudy weather our photos were not so good and most importantly we could not see the Kailash peak at Kalpa :(


Accommodation
- All the guest houses were standard and up to the mark
- Monal Residency was the best among the lot


Food
- All kind of food (Rice, Roti, Chicken, Egg, Vegetables) with good taste were available everywhere
- We have not tried the local foods to keep our stomach O.K :p


Expenses
- As we could arrange all economic guest houses at each place (except Chandigarh) our per head cost for this trip was approx. 20K including air fare and train fare :)


Thank You Supratim Pan for sharing this excellent travel story with us ! :) 

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