Cities

Mesmerizing Canadian Rockies

By

Relentless rain and flash-flooding kept us pretty much house-arrested for the first couple of days, after which, the sun shone. And, all of a sudden the wide ranges of Canadian Rockies appeared at the west horizon of the city of Calgary. The gloomy city is all set for a bright and warm weekend. We set out for Banff in my sistersтАЩ car on Saturday morning.

Read More

рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХреЗ рд░рдВрдЧ, рджреЗрдЦрд┐рдпреЗ рдореЗрд░реЗ рд╕рдВрдЧ…..

By

рд╡реИрд╕реЗ рддреЛ рдЖрдП рджрд┐рди рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рди рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдХрд╛рдо рд╕реЗ рдЖрдирд╛ рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рд▓рдЧрд╛ рд╣реА рд░рд╣рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рд╣реА рд╢рд╣рд░ рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рдХреА рд╡рдЬрд╣ рд╕реЗ…

Read More

Nainital and Mukteshwar- Kumaoni Paradise

By

We enjoyed our horse ride to Tiffin Top. The scenic beauty was simply breath taking. Gorgeous Kumaoni range came in front of us with almost every turns of the narrow road. Shera, my horse was very much obedient and being the local resident, it knew the better than anyone, I guess.

Read More

Self-Drive trip across Thailand (7 days, 2000 kms) : Part 5 тАУ Bang Saen to Kampaeng Phet

By

We had plans of visiting heritage sites and local night market, but lassitude takes over as soon as we arrive. After strolling around the neighbourhood, spying on local shops and outlets, we are back to the guest house.
There are number of cosy sit-outs within the house. In the evening, guests have gathered here to relax and chat-up. Soon I connect up with Bill, an Austrian from Vienna and Shoo, a Thai traveller. Yes, they tell, they are also travelling across Thailand. While exchanging notes I discover that both of them (though travelling separately) are very special Ghumakkars. Bill (actually Bills, a couple) has arrived here Cycling all the way from AUSTRIA! Well, the story goes like this. They are avid cyclists. They have covered large parts of the globe cycling. Bill roughly cycles for an year in one go! By end of the year long loop, he is back in Vienna to earn his livelihood. After earning for about 6-8 months, he is again out for the next trip. He tells us that he does not own a car and has a very small house in Vienna. He works just to make enough money for the next trip. Same is the story of his partner. She is from the same place and they share the same passion. They are 6 months into the current trip and plan to cycle north to China and then through Kazakhstan and Eastern Europe to Vienna. Their belongings, typical for cyclists, comprise of two rucksacks (strapped to either side of the carrier) and a sleeping bag cum tenting equipment.

Read More

рджреЗрд╣рд░рд╛рджреВрди рдХреБрдЫ рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рдХреБрдЫ рдЕрдирдЬрд╛рдирд╛

By

рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рд╣рдо рдкреНрд░рдХрд░реНрддрд┐ рдХрд╛ рдЕрдЬреВрдмрд╛ рдШреВрдЪреВрдкрд╛рдиреА рдпрд╛ рд░реЛрдмрд░реНрд╕ рдХреЗрд╡ рдХреА рдФрд░ рдЪрд▓ рдкрдбрд╝реЗ |рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рдЧрд╛рдЗрдб рдФрд░ рдСрдЯреЛ рдЪрд╛рд▓рдХ рдиреЗ рдмрддрд╛рдпрд╛ рдЬрдм рдЖрдк рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдЬрд╛рдУрдЧреЗ рддреЛ рдРрд╕рд╛ рд▓рдЧреЗрдЧрд╛ рдХреА рдЖрдк рд╡рд╛рддреНрддрд╛рдиреБрдХреБрд▓рд┐рдд рд╕реБрд░рдВрдЧ рдореЗ рдЪрд▓ рд░рд╣реЗ рд╣реИ |рдШреВрдЪреВрдкрд╛рдиреА, рджреЗрд╣рд░рд╛рджреВрди рд╕реЗ 8 рдХрд┐рд▓реЛрдореАрдЯрд░ рджреВрд░ рд░рд╛рдЬрдкреБрд░ рд░реЛрдб рдкрд░ рдЕрдирд╛рд░рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рдЧрд╛рдВрд╡ рд╕реЗ 1 рдХрд┐рд▓реЛрдореАрдЯрд░ рдХреА рдкреИрджрд▓ рджреВрд░реА рдкрд░ рд╕рд┐рдердд рд╣реИ |рдпрд╣ рдПрдХ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдХрд░реНрддрд┐рдХ рдЧреБрдлрд╛ рд╣реИ рдЬрд┐рд╕рдореЗ рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ рдЖрдзрд╛ рдХрд┐рд▓реЛрдореАрдЯрд░ рдЕрдВрджрд░ рддрдХ рдЖрдк рдЬрд╛ рд╕рдХрддреЗ рд╣реИ|рдЧреБрдлрд╛ рдХреЗ рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдЧреБрдкреНрдд рд╕реНрд░реЛрддреЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдмрд╣ рд░рд╣рд╛ рд╣реИ |рдпрдВрд╣рд╛ рдЯрд┐рдХреЗрдЯ рд▓реЗ рдХрд░ рд╣рдо рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдкрд░рд╡реЗрд╢ рдХрд░ рдЧрдпреЗ рдРрд╕рд╛ рд▓рдЧ рд░рд╣рд╛ рдерд╛ рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рдбрд┐рд╕реНрдХрд╡рд░реА рдЪреИрдирд▓ рдХреЗ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдкреНрд░реЛрдЧреНрд░рд╛рдо рдореЗрдВ рд╢рд╛рдорд┐рд▓ рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпреЗ рд╣реИ |рдХрдВрд╣реА рд╕реБрдВрджрд░ рдЭрд░рдирд╛ рд╣реИ рддреЛ рдХрдВрд╣реА рдКрдкрд░ рд╕реЗ рдЧреБрдлрд╛ рдХреА рджреАрд╡рд╛рд░ рдореЗ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдХреА рдмреЛрдЫрд╛рд░ рд╣реЛ рд░рд╣реА рд╣реИ |рдХрднреА рдЖрдк рдХрдорд░ рддрдХ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдореЗ рдбреВрдм рдЬрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИ рддреЛ рдЕрдЧрд▓реЗ рд╣реА рдкрд▓ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдПрдХрджрдо рдЧрд╛рдпрдм рд╣реЛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ|рдореЗрд░реЗ рдирдЯрдЦрдЯ рдкреБрддреНрд░ рдиреЗ рдЗрд╕ рдЬрдЧрд╣ рдХреЛ рдирд╛рдо рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЧреБрдкрдЪреБрдк рдкрд╛рдиреА |

Read More

Trip to Darbar Sahib-Where self meets the soul…-I

By

There is this railway crossing on the Dinanagar-Gurdaspur stretch of NH-15 which lies miraculously at the centre of a leftward curve. Most of the drivers usually get caught unaware at this crossing. I was familiar with the notoriety of this curve and hence was attentive to its arrival. Just after crossing over the railway line, we stopped near a fruit-seller to fill our empty stomachs and sat on the nearby tube-well to chat. Our jokes and pranks didn’t seem to end anytime soon but we realised that we should pull ahead. Back to the car, we hit the road again and entered Gurdaspur city after 10 kms. There is a bypass which you can take to avoid the traffic and congestion at the Gurdaspur town but since it was a national holiday (2nd Oct), the traffic was sparse and we drove through the city. Looking around for some nice place to have a proper breakfast, all four of us had our necks craned out of the window. However, any place proposed by one was put down by the rest…a big disadvantage of traveling in an all-guys-group i think. Suddenly, I saw a turbanated policeman signalling us to stop. I just wanted to zip ahead as we were on the right side of law in every respect (thats what I believed till then) but Jaspreet insisted that we should stop as the Punjab Police cops chase such cars which dont stop and then harrass you even more…the job they are best at. Stopping a few metres ahead, I asked everyone to relax and not to get out of the car…a mistake that cost us 200 bucks!!! The Sardarji policeman came upto our car…positioned his elbows on the window and asked where we were from. We replied in Punjabi that we are from Jammu and heading towards The Harmandir Sahib. The Sardarji smiled at us and asked us why we had not fastened our seat belts…..HOLY SHIT… We realised that after we started driving from our last stop where we had fruits, we had just forgot to fasten our seat-belts.

Read More

рд░рд╛рдЬрд╡рд╛рдбрд╝рд╛ – рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХрд╛ рдЖрдИрдирд╛

By

рдХреГрд╖реНрдгрдкреБрд░рд╛ рдХреА рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ (Cenotaphs), рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХреЗ рд╣реЛрд▓рдХрд░ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╡рдВрд╢ рдХреЗ рдкреВрд░реНрд╡ рд╢рд╛рд╕рдХреЛрдВ рдХреА рд╕рдорд╛рдзрд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рд╣реИрдВ. рдпреЗ рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХреА рдЦрд╛рди рдирджреА рдХреЗ рдХрд┐рдирд╛рд░реЗ рдкрд░ рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд┐рдд рд╣реИрдВ рддрдерд╛ рд╡рд╛рд╕реНрддреБрдХрд▓рд╛ рдХреА рджреГрд╖реНрдЯрд┐ рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рдЙрддреНрдХреГрд╖реНрдЯ рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд╛рдг рд╣реИрдВ. рд╕реИрдХрдбрд╝реЛрдВ рд╡рд░реНрд╖реЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рд╡рд┐рджреНрдпрдорд╛рди рдпреЗ рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рд╣реЛрд▓рдХрд░ рдорд░рд╛рдард╛ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╡рдВрд╢ рдХреЗ рдЧреМрд░рд╡рд╢рд╛рд▓реА рдИрддрд┐рд╣рд╛рд╕ рдХреА рджреНрдпреМрддрдХ рд╣реИрдВ. рдорд░рд╛рдард╛ рд╡рд╛рд╕реНрддреБрдХрд▓рд╛ рд╢реИрд▓реА рдореЗрдВ рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд┐рдд рдпреЗ рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрдХреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд▓реБрднрд╛рддреА рд╣реИрдВ рддрдерд╛ рдЖрдордВрддреНрд░рд┐рдд рдХрд░рддреА рд╣реИрдВ. рдпреЗ рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рдорд╛рд▓рд╡рд╛ рдХреА рд╢рд╛рд╕рд┐рдХрд╛ рдорд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рдиреА рдХреГрд╖реНрдгрд╛рдмрд╛рдИ, рдорд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рдЬрд╛ рддреБрдХреЛрдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рддрдерд╛ рдорд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рдЬрд╛ рд╢рд┐рд╡рд╛рдЬреАрд░рд╛рд╡ рдХреА рд╕рдорд╛рдзрд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдкрд░ рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд┐рдд рд╣реИрдВ рддрдерд╛ рдЗрдиреНрд╣реАрдВ рд╢рд╛рд╕рдХреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рд╕рдорд░реНрдкрд┐рдд рд╣реИрдВ. рдЗрди рдЫрддреНрд░рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рд╕рднрд╛рдЧреНрд░рд╣ рддрдерд╛ рдЧрд░реНрднрдЧреГрд╣ рд╣реИрдВ, рдЧрд░реНрднрдЧреГрд╣ рдореЗрдВ рдЗрди рд╢рд╛рд╕рдХреЛрдВ рдХреА рдореВрд░реНрддрд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдЕрдм рд╣рд┐рдиреНрджреВ рджреЗрд╡реА рджреЗрд╡рддрд╛рдУрдВ рдХреА рдореВрд░реНрддрд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рднреА рд╕реНрдерд╛рдкрд┐рдд рдХрд░ рджреА рдЧрдИ рд╣реИрдВ.

Read More

Self Drive Trip across Thailand (7 days, 2000 kms) : Part 4 (Bang Saen)

By

Next day we walk down to the beach. Beach has its own share of food stalls and other knick-knacks counters. We come across a lady vending ripe jackfruit flesh. This is an exotic dish in Bengal (Bongs famously say that you either love it or hate it тАУ immensely; primarily because of its strong odour and quaint taste). Sharmi tries the fruit and it tastes good. Jackfruits look quite different here. They are larger in size and pricklier in appearance. We saw them yesterday while entering Bang Saen but did not recognise them for what they are. ItтАЩs only today, on coming across the peeled version, does the realisation dawn.

Read More

рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ – рдордзреНрдп рдкреНрд░рджреЗрд╢ рдХрд╛ рдХреЛрд╣рд┐рдиреВрд░ / рдЯреНрд░реЗрдЬрд╝рд░ рдЖрдИрд▓реЗрдВрдб рдореЗрдВ рд╕реИрд░ рд╕рдкрд╛рдЯрд╛

By

рдЯреНрд░реЗрдЬрд╝рд░ рдЖрдИрд▓реЗрдВрдб рдХреЗ рдореБрдЦреНрдп рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдгреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ Max Retail, PVR, McDonalds, Pizza Hut рдЖрджрд┐ рд╣реИрдВ, рдФрд░ рдпреЗ рд╕рдм рдордзреНрдп рдкреНрд░рджреЗрд╢ рдореЗрдВ рд╕рдмрд╕реЗ рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рдпрд╣реАрдВ рдпрд╛рдиреА рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХреЗ рдЯреНрд░реЗрдЬрд╝рд░ рдЖрдИрд▓реЗрдВрдб рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рд╢реБрд░реВ рд╣реБрдП. рд╣рд░ рдмрдЬрдЯ рдХреЛ рд╕реВрдЯ рдХрд░рддреА рд╣реБрдИ рд╢реМрдкрд┐рдВрдЧ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдореЗрдВ рдЯреНрд░реЗрдЬрд╝рд░ рдЖрдИрд▓реЗрдВрдб рд╕реЗ рдмрдврд╝рдХрд░ рдФрд░ рдХреЛрдИ рдЬрдЧрд╣ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИ. рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХреЗ рдпреБрд╡рд╛рдУрдВ рдХреА рддреЛ рдпрд╣ рдЬрдЧрд╣ рдкрд╣рд▓реА рдкрд╕рдВрдж рд╣реИ. рд▓реИрдВрдбрдорд╛рд░реНрдХ рдЧреНрд░реБрдк рдиреЗ рднрд╛рд░рдд рдореЗрдВ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рд░рд┐рдЯреЗрд▓ рд╕реНрдЯреЛрд░ рдХреА рд╢реБрд░реБрдЖрдд рдЯреНрд░реЗрдЬрд╝рд░ рдЖрдИрд▓реЗрдВрдб рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рд╕реЗ рд╣реА рдХреА рдереА. рдпрд╣ рдореЙрд▓ рдиреЙрдПрдбрд╛ рддрдерд╛ рдЧреБрдбрдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдХреЗ рдореЙрд▓реНрд╕ рдХреА рдЯрдХреНрдХрд░ рдХрд╛ рд╣реИ. рд╕рднреА рдЙрдореНрджрд╛ рдмреНрд░рд╛рдВрдбреНрд╕ рдХреЗ рд╢реЛрд░реВрдореНрд╕ рд╕реЗ рд╕рдЬреЗ рдзрдЬреЗ рдЗрд╕ рдореЙрд▓ рдореЗрдВ рд╕реНрдЯреЗрдЯ рдСрдлрд╝ рдЖрд░реНрдЯ рдПрд╕реНрдХреЗрд▓реЗрдЯрд░реНрд╕ рднреА рд▓рдЧреЗ рд╣реИрдВ. рдпрд╣ рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рд╣реА рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╕рдореВрдЪреЗ рдордзреНрдп рдкреНрд░рджреЗрд╢ рдХрд╛ рд╕рдмрд╕реЗ рдмрдбрд╝рд╛ рдореЙрд▓ рд╣реИ. рдЗрдВрджреМрд░ рдХреЗ рд▓реЛрдЧреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рддреЛ рдЯреНрд░реЗрдЬрд╝рд░ рдЖрдИрд▓реЗрдВрдб рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдЯреВрд░рд┐рд╕реНрдЯ рд╕реНрдкреЙрдЯ рд╕реЗ рдХрдо рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИ.

Read More

Self-Drive trip across Thailand (7 days and 2000 kms) : Part 3 тАУ Bangkok to Bang Saen

By

Drive from Bangkok to Bang Saen is over тАШBangkok тАУ Chonburi Motorway (NH7)тАЩ. The motorway passes close to Suvarnabhumi airport exit and reaches Bang Saen after about an hourтАЩs drive. Motorways are elevated toll roads, well maintained offering smooth ride. The motorways/ highways are well marked in English and Thai but the English fonts are smaller in size than Thai.

Read More

Self-Drive trip across Thailand (7 days, 2000 kms): Part-2 Preparing for the trip

By

Thailand packages are tediously limited to Bangkok and Pattaya (thatтАЩs how they are bundled up by travel agents here); and for the more desirous ones, add-ons are Phuket or Krabi. Ditto, while discussing Thailand with colleagues who have visited it, all they had on offer were superficials limited to these destination. And here is what we observed тАУ Bangkok, where we spent maximum time was the most uninspiring despite all its glitzy malls, tourist spots, shopping centers, et al and Pattaya, which we drove across, did not appear much different. Actually, both the places had тАШTOURISTY – NOT AUTHENTICтАЩ tag imprinted bolder than the fonts here for any discerning traveler to see. Our best memories of the country extend beyond (and almost exclude) these two places.

Read More

Panch Prayag, Joshimath, Auli тАУ All the Way to Badrinath тАУ Part I of II

By

Next day morning, we got our breakfast packed and headed for Joshimath at around 8 a.m. It was a calculated four-hour drive from Rudraprayag. The hills were getting more and more rugged as we travelled farther and farther and more of stark, stony beauty of the Himalayas unfolded. The next stopover was at Karnaprayag. Karnaprayag is about 174 kms from Rishikesh and about 32 kms from Rudraprayag. It is again the divine meeting point of the geographically important green Pindar River with the religiously important brown and muddy Alakananda River. It is believed that here the mighty Karna had performed his penance and attained his indestructible powers from his father, the Sun God. We stretched our legs and after a brief stint of photography session, we continued heading towards Joshimath via the same NH 58.

Read More