This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Atul Maharaj as he takes us down the memory lane to the dreamy town of Panchgani!Today's destination: Panchgani, MaharashtraNearest Airport: Pune International Airport, PNQNearest Railway Station: Pune Junction, PUNEPrerequisites - n/aPacking - pack according to the weatherTime of the year - June to January can be a good time to travelLength of the itinerary - Weekend itinerary is optimalItinerary Highlights:- Atul shares his experience of growing up in Panchgani and his experience of life in a boarding school. He also touches up on the different residential schools in Panchgani and the history behind some of them.- Atul also talks at the different experiences at New Era High School including being a part of Bournvita Quiz contest and the Aamir Khan starrer, Taare Zameen Par!- We discuss important points of interest in Panchgani including popular hang outs like Table top, view points like Parsi point, Sydney Point and Harrison's folly.- There are also caves believed to have been used by the Pandavas during their final ascent to the heavens.- Apart from places to interest, there are also several farms that grow berries - primarily Strawberries and gooseberries. The popular factory Mapro, provides a great getaway to spend some time at the factory and park. The factory is also popular for being a completely organic operation as well as being run by solar energy.- Apart from Mapro, there are options to make a quick trip to Mahabaleshwar which has several points of interest, including a temple that is the source of river Krishna, the Kamalgadh fort - a popular hiking destination, view points like Dolphin's nose, Elephants trunk, adventure activities like paragliding, Devrai art village, that is an artisan's village, Kaas plateau which is popular as the valley of flowers of Maharashtra.- Finally, Atul calls out some must try eating joints in Panchgani including some iconic tea stalls near the city centre, Lucky's bakery for chai and bun maska, Vada pav by Shivaji Statue, Lakshmi Vilas hotel for Maharashtrian meals, Akbar Ali's for aloo parathas and street food, MV Roach's bakery for some fulsome fresh breads and cakes, Hilltop ice cream for gulkhan and green chilli ice cream, to name a few!Links:Atul's blog: https://socialmaharaj.comPanchgani blog posts:https://socialmaharaj.com/2020/04/01/memories-of-new-era-high-school-panchgani/https://socialmaharaj.com/2018/07/18/short-getaway-vacation-visit-to-mapro-garden-panchgani-must/https://socialmaharaj.com/2016/10/14/breathtaking-panchgani/https://socialmaharaj.com/2016/01/29/panchgani-in-natures-lap/Follow Atul on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/atulmaharajIG: https://www.instagram.com/atulmaharaj/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Atulmaharaj/ Photo by Shubham waghulde on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Vishwas Raj, founder of the adventure travel company - Adventure Sindbad (www.adventuresindbad.com). Adventure Sindbad specializes in a variety of adventure activities across the Himalayas, right from hiking, cycling, whitewater rafting to family adventure tours. Sit back and enjoy as Vishwas takes us to Changthang, the land of the Pashmina! Today's destination: Changthang, Jammu & Kashmir Nearest Airport: Leh Airport Nearest Railway Station: Udhampur Railway station Prerequisites - Inner line permits may be required for a few areas. This is taken care of by Adventure Sindbad if you travel with them. Packing - Warm clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, good walking boots Time of the year - August Length of the itinerary: 10 days Itinerary Highlights: This experience is a part of a photography trip led by Adventure Sindbad. The trip begins with acclimitization in Leh for 2-3 days in order to get used to the high altitude. The guests get to go around and explore the old Leh city during the acclimatization process! The group then heads off towards the Changthang area, a highland plateau in Kashmir that extends to Tibet and covers about 1600 kms into Tibet. The first stop is close to the picturesque Tso Moriri lake, albeit at some distance from the touristy points around the lake. One gets to experience the beautiful colors of nature while camping close to Tso Moriri. The group then heads off towards the camping site close to the nomads of Changthang - the Changpas. The Changpas are a nomadic community that wanders across the Changthang area with their herd of sheep and goats. The famous pashmina wool is made from the wool of the sheep and goat of this region, which is then crafted by Kashmiri artisans and is very valuable. The adventure sindbad team does a recce of the area well in advance and establishes contact with the nomads in order to ensure the group isn't being intrusive. As a part of the photography trip, the patrons get to document the life of the Changpas and their nomadic lifestyle. The rebo or yak wool tents of the Changpas are the epitome of minimalism and simplicity. The tents contain a kitchen, a dining area, sleeping area and a prayer room. Once the group has made contact with the nomads and set up tent in the vicinity, the patrons get a chance to observe and document the lifestyle of the Changpas, considered a dying lifestyle with the younger generations prefering to move away. The Changpas usually own anywhere between 100-800 sheep and start the day early by milking the goats and sheep. Some of the family then heads off to graze the sheep, while one or two family members stay back and take care of the household chores. The group gets to experience the various aspects of nomads life and also get some exotic shots of the arid plateau. Links: Adventure Sindbad's Website Follow Adventure Sindbad on  Facebook Twitter Instagram TripAdvisor Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram Checkout our websiteOr you can email us: themusafirstories@gmail.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to journalist and host of Madraswallah podcast, Arjun Narayanan!Today's destination: Thrissur, Kerala!Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, COK Nearest Railway Station: Thrissur Railway station, TCRPrerequisites - n/aPacking - Pack according to the weather if you are traveling in the summer.Time of the year - April-May Length of the itinerary: 3-5 daysItinerary Highlights:- Arjun talks about the rich history of Thrissur and the important rulers over the years, calling out Raja Rama Varma or Sakthan Thanpuran - the ruler of the Kingdom of Kochi.- Thrissur is referred to as the cultural capital of Kerala for the rich heritage, religious places, art forms as well as festivals.- The most important of the temples is the Vadakkumnathan temple, situated in central Thrissur. The temple is said to be over 1000 years old and is also home to the Koothambalam performing art. The temple has daily shows of the koothambalam performed at the temple premises. The main deity of the temple is Shiva. The temple is built in the traditional Kerala style of architecture and is also the location of the famous Thrissur Pooram.- Apart from the Vadakkumnathan Temple, other popular temples in the town include  Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple, Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple,- Thrissur is also home to the oldest mosque in India and Asia, the Cheraman Juma Mosque in Kodungalloor that is said to have been built during the time of Prophet Mohammed.- Popular churches in Thrissur include Our Lady of Dolours Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica (Puthan Pally), believed to be one of the tallest churches in Asia.- Another important point of interest in Thrissur is the Kerala Kalamandalam, home to many of Kerala's performing arts, most prominent of them being Kathakali, Kudiyattam and Mohiniyattam. The Kalamandalam is believed to be key in preserving Kathakali when it was on the verge of extinction during the British rule.- Other places of interest include the Thrissur Zoo, Sakthan Tampuran palace, Athirapally waterfalls, Vilangan hills among others.- The most important festivity in Thrissur is the Thrissur Pooram and is one of the largest congregations in the world with 6-7 lakh people believed to come together for this festival. The Pooram takes place around the end of April or early May and is attended by devotees and visitors from all over India and abroad.- Two groups of temples, one led by Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple and the other by Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple come together in an elaborate face off of elephants, artists and a variety of paraphernalia. The main events of the Pooram include Flag Hoisting, Poora Vilambharam (Door opening by elephant), Display of fireworks, Display of caparisons, Main pooram (Display of Fans, music by more than 200 artists, with instruments such as thimila, madhalam, trumpet, cymbal and edakka), Final fireworks.Links:Link to Madraswallah podcast - https://madraswallah.com/category/podcasts-2/Link to Simply Stories Chennai - https://www.facebook.com/simplystorie/Thrissur Pooram video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOoIF2XPMqsImage credits - Arjun Narayanan Follow Arjun on :Twitter: https://twitter.com/madraswallahIG: https://www.instagram.com/madraswallah/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arjun.narayanan.73Follow the Musafir stories on :Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Call - Limited time offer!!One month of free access to The Great Courses Plus: http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/musafirThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Chandreyi and Joy from the blog www.themoonchasers.comToday's destination: Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh!Nearest Airport: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur, MP (NAG)Nearest Railway Station: Nagpur Railway Station, NGPPrerequisites - Make sure to get permits and lodging sorted ahead of time (https://forest.mponline.gov.in)Packing - Pack light, do not pack bring colored clothes, carry hats, insect repellants and binoculars as needed.Time of the year - Round the year except monsoons, summer months can be very hot.Length of the itinerary: 3 daysItinerary Highlights:- Joy and Chandreyi start off by sharing the background of the Pench National Park and the folklore it shares of the very popular character, Mowgli and the Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. The couple also speak of the inspiration drawn from Sir David Attenborough's 3 part documentary that was shot in this national park, Spy in the Jungle!- The National Park is located in the heartland of India, in Madhya Pradesh which is also home to other national parks and tiger reserves like Kanha, Panna, Satpura and Bandhavgarh.- One can enter the path through any of the 3 gates, depending on where you are lodging - Turia gate, Karmajheri gate, or Jamtara gate.- Pench is home to several species of wildlife including but not limited to the Royal Bengal tiger, jackal, peafowl, wild dog, wild boar, sloth bear, Indian leopard, fox, striped hyena, monkey, gaur, barking deer, four-horned antelope, Indian wolf among others.- Both canter and Jeep Safari options are available, be sure to make reservations ahead of time as it can get crowded during the peak season. Safaris are available during the mornings and evenings.- Joy and Chandreyi share their experience of going on the wildlife safaris and the encounter with the main protagonist and queen of Pench - Collarwali and her cubs.- The couple also share their experience of sighting the other popular tigress - Langari.- The next day's safari is all about Collarwali's cubs and the nerve wracking encounter with an unknown male tiger in the region, and how the cubs navigate their way out of a tricky situation.- The duo also share some of the concerns and effects that uncontrolled tourism could have on the ecosystem as well as the long ongoing man-animal conflict.Links:Link to the blog The Moonchasers: https://themoonchasers.comLink to YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw8R6jB6xzZ3Xjrp26yGuGwLink to the BBC Documentary, Spy in the Jungle: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009smrgFollow the The Moonchasers on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmoonchazers IG: https://www.instagram.com/themoonchasersofficial/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dmoonchazersJoin their workshop: https://www.tripoto.com/collections/tour-packages/careers-to-consider-if-you-love-travelling-joy-and-chandreyi-161718179430 Photo by Jay Patel on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Limited time offer!!One month of free access to The Great Courses Plus:http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/musafir This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to slow traveler, mountain lover and YouTuber, Chandan Prakash! Today's destination: Gomukh and Tapovan Trek, Uttarakhand! Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, DED Nearest Railway Station: Dehradoon Railway Station, DDN Prerequisites - Permit will be required for the trekhttps://uttarkashi.nic.in/service/online-single-window-system/ Packing - Warm clothes, medication, good shoes and trekking gear Time of the year - October - November for the Autumn trek Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days Itinerary Highlights: - The trip starts off from Gangotri, a small pilgrimage town and one of the Chardham's in HIndu religion.- Make sure you spend 1-2 days in Gangotri, acclimatizing and making sure your body is getting used to the higher altitude.- Gangotri is also religiously very significant place as it is believed that the Ganges was brought down to the earth from the heavens at this point. There is Ganga temple as well as Suryakund which you can visit during your stay here. The Ganga Aarti also happens on the ghats.- Once you have acclimatized in Gangotri, the trek begins with the first stop being at Chirbasa - this is small stopover and has beautiful views surrounded by pine trees. The permits are checked before you reach Chirbasa- From here, continue trekking towards the camp site of Bhojbasa as this is the only place to halt overnight before your ascent towards Gomukh glacier. There are 2-3 options for staying GMVN property being one of them, along with a couple of ashrams.- AMS can be a factor as you make the ascent, make sure to take breaks and stay an extra day if you have any symptoms.- After the overnight stay at Bhojbasa, start your ascent towards the Gomukh glacier. Gomukh glacier is the source of the river Ganga (River Bhageerathi at this point). The glacier's snout is in the form of a cow's head and is considered holy for Hindus.- One has to cross the glacier in order to continue the trek towards Tapovan - but crossing the glacier is a tricky situation as the glacier has crevasses in several places and has been receding at a fast pace due to climate change. It is preferred to have a guide/porter for the journey.- The trek from Gomukh to Tapovan is the hardest stretch, even though it is a short distance. One gains significant height and has to deal with some technical sections and crossing a river stream (Akashganga) during the ascent.- Once you have crossed the river and made the ascent, you reach Tapovan - our destination and campsite for the next 1-2days. Tapovan is a flat land that is surrounded by some majestic peaks, including the Shivaling peak, Bhagirathi peaks (1,2,3). There are other peaks in the vicinity that one can view as well from the camp site.- There Tapovan meads are full of wildflowers and sometime mountain goats, along with the stunning views of the peaks. The place also has a lot of lore and legends attached to it!- One can indulge in some stunning photography of the surroundings as well as the night skies, weather permitting.- There are a couple of babas who have small huts where one can lodge for the stay. One can also camp here if you are traveling with a travel company. Start your journey back after enjoying the stay here for 1-2 days! Links: Chandan's Youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ9C6G3Cv4_fcIVb6iAKuuQ Gomukh and Tapovan trek video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNXr76uEZ28 Image credits: Chandan Prakash Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.com Apple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celebrating 100 episodes! Thank you! Limited time offer!!One month of free access to The Great Courses Plus:http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/musafirThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Pavan Srinath, a policy researcher and host of Pragati podcast, Thale Harate podcast and BIC Talks podcast, as he takes us around our home state of Karnataka, exploring the temples of the Hoysala kingdom!Today's destination: Hoysala temples of Karnataka!Nearest Airport: Kempegowda Airport, Bengaluru (BLR)Nearest Railway Station: Bangalore railway station (SBC)Prerequisites - Dress according to the weather, some temples might need you to dress appropriately.Packing - n/aTime of the year - Round the year, except summersLength of the itinerary: Weekend itinerary or an Ex-Bangalore itineraryItinerary Highlights:- Pavan walks us through the origins of the Hoysala empire and the rise from being cheiftains in the Malenadu region to being rulers of a majority of the Karnataka region, spread over a period of 300 years- The rise of the Hoysala empire also coincides with the Bhakti movement and vaishnavite form of Hinduism in the region primarily influenced by Jainism.- The most popular ruler of Hoysalas was King Vishnuvardhana, who also started the work for one of the most popular temples of the era - the Chennakeshava temple in Belur, devoted to Lord Vishnu and built over a period of over hundred years.- Pavan discusses the intricacies of the Hoysala architecture as well as the key characteristics of the temple, including short Vimanas, raised platforms and intricate carvings on the panels. We also discuss the use of soapstone in the construction of the temples as well as the characteristic black sheen of the structures.- Halebidu has the other set of popular temples that succeeded the Belur temple complex, with the Hoysaleshwara temple being the most significant of the lot. Halebidu was later the capital of the Hoysala kingdom before being ransacked by the raiding Sultanate armies.- Besides the temples in Belur and Halebidu, other significant temples in the region include the temples in Belavadi - primarily Veeranarayanaswamy temple built by the Hoysala king Veera Ballala IIOther important Hoysala temples include, but are not limited to- Chennakeshava Temple (Somanathapura near Mysore)- Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple (Nuggehalli near Hassan)- Lakshmi Narasimha Temple (Javagal near Hassan)- Lakshmi Devi Temple (Doddagaddavalli near Hassan)- Nageshwara-Chennakeshava Temple (Mosale near Hassan)- Lakshminarayana Temple (Hosaholalu near Mysore)- Amrutesvara Temple (Amruthapura near Shivamogga)Links:Links to Pavan's podcasts:Pragati podcast - https://ivmpodcasts.com/the-pragati-podcast-episode-listThale Harate podcast - https://ivmpodcasts.com/harate-kannada-podcastBIC Talks podcast - https://bangaloreinternationalcentre.org/watch-listen-read/audio/Links to Pavan's social media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeusisdead?lang=enIG: https://www.instagram.com/zeusisdead/?hl=enLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavansrinath/?originalSubdomain=inBattle music:Sota War (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/sounds/258207/) by YleArkisto (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/) is licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)Image Credits - The Musafir Stories PodcastLeaf Circle Vectors by VecteezyFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Limited time offer!! One month of free access to The Great Courses Plus:http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/musafirLecture: How to Speak Effectively in an setting: (Start your free trial before hitting this link)https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/how-to-speak-effectively-in-any-settingThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Vaibhav Dewan, host of the pregnant papa podcast, Baapbeeti! Today's destination: Andaman Islands!Nearest Airport: Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair (IXZ)Nearest Railway Station: NAPrerequisites - NAPacking - Pack your beachwear! Time of the year - October through January.Length of the itinerary: 8 daysItinerary Highlights:- Vaibhav kicks off his journey from Port Blair where he explores the important points of interest including the Cellular Jail. There is also a sound and light show in the evening at the cellular jail premises.- Another POI that you should not miss out on is Chidiya Tapu, popular for its birds as well the beautiful sunsets. There is also a trek to suicide point that you can easily do from here.- The next pitstop includes Wandoor beach as well as Mahatma Gandhi Marine park to learn more about corals and marine life. Another option is to take a jetty ride to Jollyboy island.- Next on the agenda is a tour to the Ross Island - the former administrative capital of Andaman Islands during the British rule. The island still has a lot of ruins of buildings from the colonial era. There is also a sound and light show here that has been newly started.- The next point of interest is Neil island or Shaheed Dweep - about 47kms from Port Blair. You have to book a ticket on the government ferry here that can be time consuming (in case you don't want to opt for private options). Neil island is popular for beaches like Ramnagar beach, Sitapur beach, Laxmanpur beach and Bharatpur beach. The beaches here have some stunning sunsets that one should not miss. There is also a natural bridge formation called as Howrah bridge that has a lot of corals in the vicinity.- The next and final island stop is to Havelock island or Swaraj Deep! It is one of the bigger islands and is popular for cafes and eateries, as well as its laid back vibes. Radhanagar beach, which is rated as the most beautiful beach in India and 7th in the world is a popular attraction, with smooth white sands and blue waters. Other popular beaches here include Elephanta beach. The island has a lot of options for adventures sports, including Scuba diving certification courses and kayaking.Links:Link to Vaibhav's podcast: Baapbeeti - a pregnant papa podcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/5cELVD4HYXq0sAQ2lSKaccFollow Vaibhav on :Twitter: https://twitter.com/dewanekhaasIG: https://www.instagram.com/dewanz/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vaibhavdewanPhoto by Deepak Kumar on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Checkout the Great Courses Plus!! Start your free trial - http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/musafir -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Raksha Rao from the blog The Roving Heart!Today's destination: Auli, Uttarakhand!Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport (DED)Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh Railway Station (RKSH)Prerequisites - Make sure to have reservations where necessary, specially if you are planning on taking skiing lessons!Packing - Pack warm clothes and winter wear. Time of the year - Round the year!Length of the itinerary: 6-8 daysItinerary Highlights:- Raksha starts off from Rishikesh, please save enough time as the journey from Rishikesh to Auli can take the full day and roads are usually closed after sun down.- Raksha shares her experience learning skiing in Auli, one of the premier skiing destinations in India. The course can be 1-2 weeks long depending on the option, available by both government and private players. Options for skiing include both tandem as well as solo courses. Auli and Dehradun have also been hosts for the first South Asian Winter games in the past.- While you are taking skiing classes, make sure to take a ride on the second longest cable car in India that is almost 4kms long and lasts for about half an hour. There is also the man made lake that is one of the attractions of the region.- While skiing is the main attraction of Auli, there are several other options for some wonderful treks and hikes. Raksha shares her experience doing the Kuari Pass trek that can be done in summer or winters. - The trek gives you stunning views of the surrounding giants like Mana Parbat, Nanda Devi, Dronagriri, Nilkanth, Beethartoli, Ghori Parbat and Hathi Parbat. - Other popular treks around the region include The Valley of Flowers, Gorson bugyal trek, Hemkund Sahib trek, Tali top, Tapovan among others.- Apart from treks, Auli is also in close proximity to a number of holy sites and pilgrimage centres like the Char Dham, Hemkund Sahib, Prayags among others. There is also a popular Hanuman temple that has links to the Hindu epic of Ramayan.- Finally Auli is also home to one of Adi Shankaracharya's first Math as well as the 2500 year old Mulberry tree below which he meditated. All in all, a great destination for a week long itinerary!Links:Link to Raksha's blog: https://therovingheart.comLink to the blog post:https://therovingheart.com/skiing-in-auli-uttarakhand-india-during-winter/https://therovingheart.com/auli-uttarakhand/#Kuari_Pass_trek_8211_Things_to_do_from_AuliTwitter: https://twitter.com/TheRovingHeart IG: https://www.instagram.com/therovingheart/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRovingHeart/Photo by Diwaker Singh on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Access a world of knowledge free for a month! Great Courses Plus : https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/musafir------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Shruti Pandey, as she takes us to the land with connections to the Ramayan, Chitrakoot!Today's destination: Chitrakoot, MPNearest Airport: Allahabad/Prayagraj Airport, IXDNearest Railway Station: Karwi railway stationPrerequisites:Packing - Pack according to the weatherTime of the year - Nov-Dec, Feb-AprLength of the itinerary:  2-4 daysItinerary Highlights:- Shruti speaks of the connection of Chitrakoot to the hindu epic of Ramayan - the place where Ram, Sita and Laxman spent close to 12 years while on exile.- Chitrakoot has been a religiously significant place given its connection to the Ramayan, there are plenty of pilgrims that visit Chitrakoot through out the year- First on our itinerary is the Kamtanath Parikrama, named after the principal deity of Chitrakoot. Pilgrims perform a circumambulation/parikrama around the Kamtanath mountain which is about 5 kms long. It is believed to be equivalent to performing a pilgrimage to the holy Chardham!- After the parikrama, one can visit the Ram Ghat - the banks of the river Mandakini. It is said to be the place where Lord Ram used to bathe and the place where Tulsidas wrote the Ramayana. The ghat is also popular for the Aarti and the boat rides.- Day 2 starts off with a visit to Hanuman Dhara, a natural spring from the Hanumagiri mountain. This is a bit of a hike and one has to climb 500 steps to reach the spring. Hanuman is supposed to have cooled off here after ransacking Lanka. The climb also makes for a beautiful sunrise here.- Next on the agenda is the Chardham yatra (not the same as the one is Uttarakhand) that covers Sita Kund/Janaki (Sita's pond), Sphatik Shila (crystal like rock formation), Gupt Godavari (two caves which believe to the source of Godavari), Sati Anusuya Ashram (an ashram dedicated to the wife of Sage Athreya)- One of the stop overs is Ram Darshan, that has a beautiful gallery depicting the epic in the form of paintings and sculpture.- There are other places of importance like Bharat coop, Bharat Milan and Kalinjar fort (of Paatal Lok fame).Links:Link to Shruti's blog: https://minireads.inIG: https://www.instagram.com/theminireads/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Minireads1Photo by Jyoti Singh on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winners of last episode's giveaway of "Into the heart of the Himalayas" by Jono Lineen:- Praneet- Anushika Litoria- Shiv Khilwani--------------------------------------------------------------------------This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Kaushal Karkhanis aka The Exotic Gringo. Sit back and listen to where this pro traveller and polyglot takes us to today! Today's destination: Riverside Goa! Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport (GOI), Goa Nearest Railway Station: Multiple options depending on your destination. Prerequisites - NA, but make sure to plan and book your stay ahead of time if traveling during the holiday season Packing - Nothing specific, but make sure to carry appropriate clothes depending on the weather Time of the year - November to March is ideal, but is also going to be busy! Length of the itinerary: Can be anything from 1 weekend to long term for slow travel Itinerary Highlights: Kaushal starts off by taking us to the river side of North Goa - starting at the Tirakhol river. Tirakhol river divides Maharashtra and Goa and is one of the lesser explored regions. Tirakhol Fort, which is now a hotel, is a beautiful place and the restaurant is open to public. Make sure to carry your camera along, specially right after the monsoons! Nearby regioins of Keri and Arambol are very popular for their beautiful beaches as well. Mandrem, Patnem and Morjim are some of the other beaches in the vicinity. Next up is the Chapora river, which is Kaushal's favorite for its tranquility and calm. It also has a number of rare bird species and other flora and fauna. The Siolim, Chapora and Vagator are some of the villages along the river. Historically, this was the river that demarcated Portuguese India from the rest of India. Goa only became a part of independent India only in 1961! Whaaat! Other places of interest are the Chapora fort of Dil CHahta hai fame! There is the fishing village of Chapora (The village gets it's name from Shahpura, its Mughal name from the past!). There are a number of jettys which you can take a boat ride on. A very offbeat destination, ideal for someone who is looking to get away from the crazy crowds of tourists. As one heads further south, one can spend time at the village of Colvale, a quaint fishing village, also famous for the Colvale beach. Make sure to lodge at Kaza Colvale while here. Getting around Goa is a breeze - one can take the local buses, the most budget way of traveling. Then there are the 'for hire' bikes which is ideal for solo travelers and couples and Bike pilots for someone looking for a cheap alternative to cabs. The government has also tied up to Ho-Ho Goa or hop-on hop-off Goa, for full day tours around Goa for a steal. The newest mode of transport that is going to be commercialized soon will be the ferry service that can fetch you directly from the airport! Woohooo! As we continue our journey further south, one can experience the beautiful mainland from the banks of rivers like Baga, Arpora, and Mapusa which have some beautiful flea markets on the banks. The backwaters of the river Mapusa have some beautiful and quaint villages of carona, Olaulim, Corjuem and Aldona, non-touristy and super tranquil - just the perfect place to do NOTHING, and relax! Next up on the course, is the river Mandovi - one of the bigger rivers of Goa along with the Zuari. Mandovi has a number of commercially active regions along its banks and is also close the the mainland that has the capital Panjim - just the place to get you a sample of Old Goa, with ample heritage walks, fontainhas - UNESCO declared world heritage walks. The other regions of note are Reis Magos, Ribandar, Old Goa as well as a handful of islands like Vanxim island, St. Estevam island (the smallest ferry crossing), Divar island (great bicycle trails) and Chorao island (famous for Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary) Also, FOOOD! The area around Panjim has some of the best places to eat. Check out Anand Ashram (for the fish thali, check out Chonak and Motso fish), Konkani canteen and DTR (for some great local food), Taj Aguada (for unlimited buffet!). And for dessert, make sure to check sweets like serradura (at Mr. Baker), Bibbingk (Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro), Dodol (Cafe Morango), Vonn (at Chef Peter's restaurant). Further south are the rivers of Zuari and Sal - areas in the vicinity like Lutolim (famous for old portuguese mansions by Zuari), Varca, Cavelossim, Assolna and Navelim (by Sal river). Further south are the Agonda and Palolem backwaters (which are more popular for the beaches by the same names). In the vicinity of the Palolem backwaters are hidden beaches like Butteryfly and HOneymoon! Talpona, Galgibag and Rajbag beaches and backwaters are further down south and have some marvellous 5 star properties for anyone interested. However, one should explore the riversides in this area for some great bicycle rides. The final reccommendation, that Kaushal is also planning to visit soon is the wonderful Cola beach lagoon (north of Agonda beach), accessible by foot, bicycles and bikes only! Before wrapping up, Kaushal also gives a big shout out to Jeevit Nadi (www.jeevitnadi.org) that makes organic products like shampoos, soaps and more as well as free recipes for a toxin-free lifestyle, that go a long way in preventing the pollution of rivers, which is a real problem that is staring at the ecology of the region. Make sure you support them and the environment. Kudos! Links: Kaushal's blog: http://exoticgringo.com/ http://www.goatrippers.com/ Twitter: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Facebook:@gowithgringo/ @goatripping Instagram: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GIVEAWAY ALERT:We're giving away a copy of Jono's book - "Into the heart of the Himalayas". Listen to the episode and answer 3 simple questions in the google form below to stand a chance to win a copy of the book.https://forms.gle/7hEuZEC1aK35NVBY6---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Winners of last episodes giveaway of "Superhuman River - Stories of the Ganga"- Jashim Jamaludheen- Lushma RathoreThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Dr. Jono Lineen, author of the book "Into the heart of the Himalayas" as he traverses the western Himalayas from Pakistan to India, ON FOOT!Today's destination: Himalayas!Nearest Airport: n/aNearest Railway Station: n/aPrerequisites : visa/permitsPacking : n/aTime of the year : n/aLength of the itinerary: 4 monthsItinerary Highlights:- Jono discusses about the events leading up to the expedition, including the tragic and untimely death of his kid brother.- We discuss about the motivation for the trek, the plan and Jono's previous experience exploring the Himalayas- Jono talks about the rich culture and religion of the region, including the Muslim Himalayas, the Buddhist Himalayas and the Hindu Himalayas- We start the journey in Pakistan in the Astor village and Jono discusses his interesting interaction with the locals of the village, including the gun shop owner.- Jono talks about the transition from the Muslim Himalayas to the Buddhist Himalayas and the differences and similarities he found in the people of the two regions.- We discuss about the magic of walking around the beautiful terrain of the Himalayas and how Jono charted our his path using paper maps.- Jono also talks about his attempt at doing the Chardham Yatra and the challenges he faced, some memorable moments from the journey and the climax at Gomukh.Image Credit : Dr. Jono LineenLinks:Link to Jono's book - Into the heart of the Himalayashttps://www.amazon.in/Into-Heart-Himalayas-Jono-Lineen/dp/8194446821Link to Jono's new book - Perfect Motionhttps://www.amazon.in/Perfect-Motion-walking-makes-wiser-ebook/dp/B07QX1XZ17Follow Dr. Jono Lineen on :Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonolineen1IG: https://www.instagram.com/jonolineen/Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Book Giveaway!!! Answer three simple question to win Bidisha's Book!!https://forms.gle/PzciznCMfQZGcTUZ9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Bidisha Banerjee, author of "Superhuman River - Stories of the Ganga"!Today's destination- The path of the river Ganga!Nearest Airport- n/aNearest Railway Station- n/aPrerequisites - might require permits if you plan to visit Gaumukh.Packing - Pack according to the season and region you are visiting!Time of the year - n/aLength of the itinerary: n/aItinerary Highlights:- We follow the 2525 km long path of the river Ganga or Ganges with author Bidisha Banerjee as she traces the river from origin to the point where it meets the sea.- The first region of interest is Gangotri, the holy source of the river where it originates from the foothills of the Himalayas. Bidisha talks about her experience taking a dip in the holy river and drinking water from the melting piece of ice. She also references the legends and lores associated to this region- Next we discuss the transformation of the Ganga from the pristine setting of the Himalayas to the plains and how humans have abused the rivers with some examples of the pollution caused in cities like Kanpur.- We also discuss about the little known Ganga river model in one of India's premier universities and the state it stands in today.- We move on to Bihar where we discuss the challenges faced not just by the river but by some precious wildlife like the endangered Ganga river dolphins that are at the brink of extinction.- Moving on from Bihar, we discuss about Ganga's breakaway journey into Bangladesh and how the river is perceived in the neighbouring country.- Finally, we discuss the Bawliays and Bonbibi of Sunderbans and the unique ecosystem of the region that has been shaped by the river.Links:Link to Bidisha's book: Superhuman River - Stories of the Gangahttps://www.amazon.in/SUPERHUMAN-RIVER-Stories-Bidisha-Banerjee/dp/8194365767Link to Bidisha's Website:https://www.bidisha-banerjee.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/bidishabanerjee?lang=enFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Pune, with Shraddha Maheshwari - the Shepherd Traveller!Today's destination: Pune, Maharashtra!Nearest Airport: Pune International Airport, PNQNearest Railway Station: Pune Junction (PUNE)Prerequisites : NAPacking : Make sure to carry your hiking shoes!Time of the year : Monsoons are the best time to visit, June-AugLength of the itinerary:  3-5 daysItinerary Highlights:- Shraddha starts off the itinerary by taking us to the iconic Shaniwar Wada, the seat of power of the Peshwas!- Built during the reign of Peshwa Baji Rao I, the Wada or Estate, served as the palace of the Peshwas, the Prime Ministers of the Chattrapatis or Kings of Pune.- The Palace has some beautiful fountains and gardens in the premises and has been witness to some important events, good and bad. Guide services are available if you are interested, the light and sound show is another option if you are visiting in the evening.- From here, we move to the Aga Khan Palace, another iconic monument of Pune built in 1892. This is the place where Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi were placed under house arrest. Kasturba Gandhi breathed her last here in 1944.- From here we visit some popular hills in Pune, starting with Parvati hill. The hill also has a museum with a number of artifacts from the Peshwas as well as a Shiva temple that was frequented by the Peshwas. Don't forget to catch a beautiful sunset on Parvati hill, the second highest hill in Pune- From here, we move to the Kelkar museum in Kothrud - this is built on the remains of the Mastani Palace, the second wife of Peshwa Baji Rao. Check out the Bollywood flick Bajirao Mastani to learn more about this love story that raised more than a few eyebrows!- Pune is home to a lot of other quirky museums like cycle museum, rail museum, blades of glory cricket museum, lokamanya tilak museum, Shivaji Maharaj museum, national war museum among others!- We also make a trip to two popular temples of Pune - Dagdushet Halwaii temple and Pataleshwar temple.- The Dagdushet temple is always crowded and specially during Ganesh Chaturti, which is the most popular festival in Pune. The Pataleshwar temple is a beautiful Rashtrakuta cave temple built in the 8th century AD and is dedicated to Lord Shiva!- Our next pitstop is the Pune University or Savitribai Phule University - named after one of the foremost feminist of India, Savitribai Phule, who started the first girls school of India. The university has some beautiful lawns and stunning architecture.- We next visit ARAI Hilltop or Vetal Tekdi, one of the highest points in Pune to catch a wonderful sunset. It has a small Vetal temple on the hill as well.- Another option is to spend time at the beautiful gardens in Pune, Osho Garden and Phule deshpande Garden or Pune Okayama friendship garden are a couple of great places. There is also a 7 wonders garden.- We can cap off the itinerary by calling out a couple of great trekking options in Pune. The most liked trekking spots are the Sinhagad Fort or Kondana fort and Rajgad fort.- We also discuss some great food options in Pune from Puneri Misal to Vada pav, Bakarwadi, bahubali thali and Molgapudi idli!- Also make sure are to visit Lakshmi Rd, MG rd, FC Rd and Tulsi baug for shopping!Smart Dhyana - Meditation Tracker Apphttps://www.smartdhyana.com/Promo Code: MUSAFIRLinks:Shraddha's blog: https://shepherdtraveller.com/Pune blog: https://shepherdtraveller.com/pune-travel-guide/IG: https://www.instagram.com/shepherdtraveller/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shepherdtraveler/Twitter: https://twitter.com/shepherdtravels   Photo by Kunal Bhate on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to the Tanned Travel Girl, Nishu Barolia!Today's destination: Varkala, Kerala!Nearest Airport: Trivandrum International Airport (TRV)Nearest Railway Station: Trivandrum Central (TVC)Prerequisites - NAPacking -  Pack appropriately for some warm weather and sun!Time of the year - Winters are the best, Nov-FebLength of the itinerary: 3-5 daysItinerary Highlights:- Nishu sets off by exploring the beaches of Varkala, the most important being the Varkala cliff beaches.- Apart from the North cliff and the South cliff, other important beaches include black beach, Odayam beach, Edava beach, Kapil beach.- The Kapil beach is unique in the sense that there is Kapil lake across the road where one can take a boat ride or kayak.- The entire stretch of beaches can be covered in a span of 4-5 hours by WALK!!!- Some beaches offer fun adventure activities like paragliding and jet ski. Other activities include beach yoga.- The North cliff beach is popular among international tourists and offers a variety of stay and food options. The north cliff is usually crowded as a result of this.- Apart from the beaches, one can also indulge in temple hopping as there are several significant temples in Varkala.- The important temples include Janardhana swamy temple, Shiva Parvati temple and the Guru Ashram amongst others.- Finally, one can visit the Anjengo fort and light house and find out about the history. There is also an old tunnel constructed by the British for trade/transportation which is being revived now.Links:Link to blog post: https://www.tannedtravelgirl.com/india/varkala-blog-keralaLink to blog: https://www.tannedtravelgirl.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/tannedtravelgirl/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tannedtravelgirl/Twitter: https://twitter.com/tannedtravlgirl Image Credit:  Tanned Travel Girl- Nishu Barolia, https://www.tannedtravelgirl.comThank you Anuj Agarwal and Feedspot for including The Musafir Stories in the list of Top 15 travel podcasts in India - https://blog.feedspot.com/indian_travel_podcasts/Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to  Madhurima Chakraborty from the blog www.orangewayfarer.com!!!Today's destination: North Kolkata!Nearest Airport: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)Nearest Railway Station: KOLKATA (KOAA) Railway StationPrerequisites :n/aPacking : Packing according to the weather, summers can be hot and humid!Time of the year: October/During Durga PujaLength of the itinerary: A weekend to a week!Itinerary Highlights:- Madhurima talks about the history and significance of Kolkata, right from its origins to the time Job Charnok set up the first trading post of the East India Company.- We start off the itinerary of North Kolkata from the Shyam Bazaar area and 5 point crossing with the iconic Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose statue- Madhurima takes us on a walk across the buzzing neighbourhood, sampling some interesting local cuisine like Golbari Kosha Mangsho, Kachori and interesting eateries that are over a 100 years old.- From here, we walk to the iconic potter's quarters: Kumartoli. This region is popular for the iconic Durga Puja idols with over 200 families that carry on the tradition for this festival. Madhurima shares some interesting tidbits about the region, the traditions as well as the people.- Moving on from Kumartoli, we discuss the rich traditions associated to Durga Puja, the pandals, and the connection to the Bonedi baris of the Zamindars.- After talking about the grand festival of Kolkata, we move to College Street, one of the popular streets not just for the educational institutions, but also for the largest second hand book market of Asia. Don't forget to stop and get a bite at the iconic Indian Coffee house!- From here, we move towards Central Kolkata, stopping at MG Road and Badabazaar, talking about the local markets and its popularity.- The next pitstop is at Zakaria street - one of the most popular food streets of Kolkata. The street has some iconic eateries as well as the popular Nakhoda mosque.- Madhurima talks about the various eateries on Zakaria street and the local foods to try out - make sure to go on an empty stomach!- We move on from here to Esplanade to stop over at New Market and Park Street, giving a flavour of the contrasting regions of Kolkata!- We also discuss the Christmas festivities of Park Street and the charm of Nahoum's cake for Christmas!- Continuing with the lavish food choices of Kolkata, we discuss the famous Kolkata Biryani, the potato in the Biryani and the Lucknow connection - do not miss!- We talk about the unique Pice hotels of Kolkata, its speciality and history.- We close off the episode talking about the popular sweet dishes of Kolkata beyond Rasgulla and Sandesh - gotta go eat some sweet now!Links:Link to Madhurima's blog: https://www.orangewayfarer.comLinks to Kolkata blog posts: https://www.orangewayfarer.com/?s=north+kolkataFollow Madhurima on Twitter: https://twitter.com/orangewayfarerIG: https://www.instagram.com/orangewayfarer/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orangewayfarerImage Credit - Orange Wayfarer, MadhurimaFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thank you New Indian Express & EdexLive for '40 Under 40 Award for Socially Responsible Social Media Superstars' to The Musafir Stories!!https://www.edexlive.com/40-under-40/2020/sep/23/saif-omar-faiza-khan-14711.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Utsav Mamoria, host of the travel podcast "Postcards from nowhere"!Today's destination: North Sikkim!Nearest Airport: Bagdogra airport, IXB or Pakyong AirportNearest Railway Station: Jalpaiguri or Siliguri railway stationPrerequisites: permits might be required for some regions, make sure to check.Packing: Pack warm clothes and multiple layers based on the time of the yearTime of the year: Late Feb-March (shoulder season)Length of the itinerary: 8 daysItinerary Highlights:- Utsav arrives in Gangtok, where he is based briefly before he starts moving north.- If this is your first time to Sikkim, make sure to explore some of the touristy places in and around Gangtok. You can also check out our other episodes on Sikkim by Surya Raju and by Sandy and Vyjay- Utsav and his partner head off from Gangtok towards their itinerary of Lachen, Chopta valley and Gurdongmar lake.- It is highly advised that you hire a driver to drive you around as driving in the state is quite challenging given the weather conditions and the roads.- Utsav spends his time in Lachen, enjoying the shoulder season with no tourists, interacting with locals as well as exploring the local monasteries.- Make a quick trip to Chopta valley from Lachen - the valley gives a beautiful view of the snowcapped mountains and the river (depending on the time of the year).- Utsav's trip to Gurdongmar was cut short due to the weather, since the army recommended to avoid travelling during severe weather conditions.- On the way back, Utsav makes a stop at a Gurudwara to enjoy some good conversations and a hearty langar (meal in the community kitchen).- Utsav also learns about the legend of Gurudongmar, about how Guru Nanak is believed to have traveled here and how a portion of the river never freezes at the point where the Guru hit his staff ('Dong' in Punjabi, 'Maar' is hit). There is also a legend about the Buddhist saint Padmasambhava with a similar story, hence the lake is considered sacred by both Sikhs and Buddhists. (Erroneously mentioned as "Sikhs and Hindus" on the podcast)- After spending a day at Lachen, Utsav decides to move base to a small village called Dzongu and spend some time absorbing the slow life of the village.- Slow travelling gives one the opportunity to live like a local and enjoy some authentic experiences, without having to rush from point to point.- This includes enjoying some wholesome organic food (Sikkim is the first officially organic state in India), local beers and Sikkimese hospitality in general.- Utsav also shares some interesting tidbits about the colourful prayer flags in Sikkim and their significance.- Try to hire a local tour guide driver, as they have the best network in the area (which is often useful) and also helps boost the local economy. Links:Link to Utsav's podcast:Postcards from nowhere: https://ivmpodcasts.com/postcards-from-nowhere Also available wherever you listen to podcastsLink to the Utsav's budget traveling specials on Simblified:https://ivmpodcasts.com/simblified-episode-list/2019/6/10/ep-137-how-to-travel-on-a-desi-budget-with-utsav-mamoria-part-1-1https://ivmpodcasts.com/simblified-episode-list/2019/6/24/ep-139-how-to-travel-on-a-desi-budget-with-utsav-mamoria-part-2Twitter: https://twitter.com/utsavmamoriaIG: https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42Photo by Abhishek Singh on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Satyarup Siddhanta - a Bengaluru-based Bengali mountaineer.[1] On December 15, 2017 he became the first Bengali civilian from India to complete the seven highest summits in the 7 continents. He is the President and founder of ABETO – "A better tomorrow" foundation, and works as a consultant at Brady Corporation, India.[5] Today's destination: Mt. Everest, Nepal Nearest Airport: Lukla airport Nearest Railway Station: n/a Prerequisities - Required visas, training and certification, practice and acclimatization Packing - n/a Time of the year - May Length of the itinerary: 55 days from the base camp to the Everest summit and back Itinerary Highlights: Satya shares the story of his early struggles from asthma as a kid and how he overcame this to start climbing. Satya's speaks of his expedition to Mt. Killimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa and how he discovered the feat to the 7 Summits i.e. a challenge to scale the 7 highest peaks in each of th 7 continents (Mt. Everest in Asia, Mt. Killimanjaro in Africa, Mt. Elbrus in Europe, Mt. Aconcagua in S.America, Mt. Mckinley in N.America, Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia, Mt. Vinson Masiff in Antarctica) Satya discusses his trek to the Mt. Everest base camp and how this turned into a dream to scale the summit of the tallest mountain in the world. He then also discusses how the massive expenses related to the expedition played as a deterrent to his dreams and how he overcame the challenge. Next Satya discusses the preparation and acclimitazation he underwent to scale Mt. Everest, he had to quit his existing job, take up two jobs, hire a personal trainer and overcome his sweet tooth in order to get ready for the Everest challenge! Satya explains the duration of the Everest expedition and the iterations and acclimatization involved during the push to the summit. The adversities that Satya had to face during the push to the summit are also discussed, this includes a fall in a bottomless crevasse, watcing a sherpa fall to his death while climbing, and members of other teams losing fingers due to frost bite as well as death. Satya himself suffered from temporary blindness in the left eye while close to the summit, a failed oxygen mask and 3 failed cameras! Satya finally describes the feeling of being on top of the world as well as the sights! Final thoughts and tips. Listeners can follow Satyarup on his social media handles below and contribute to his expeditions when fundraising takes place. Links to Satyarup's social media handles:Website - http://satyarupsiddhanta.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/satyarup.siddhantaTwitter - https://twitter.com/SatyarupSInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/satyarup.siddhanta/Photo by Theodor Lundqvist on Unsplash Follow The Musafir Stories onTwitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to host of the hit podcast "Echoes of India" - Anirudh Kanisetti!Today's destination: Hampi!Nearest Airport: Hubli Airport (HBX)Nearest Railway Station: Hospet Junction (HPT)Prerequisites - NAPacking - Pack according to the weather - summers can be HOT!Time of the year - Nov to Jan is a good time to visit!Length of the itinerary- 5 daysItinerary Highlights:- Anirudh speaks about the origins of history, rise of the Vijayanagara empire and the dramatic fall.- Hampi is located in the state of Karanataka, close to the Andhra Pradesh border- Vijayanagara empire rose to fame after the fall of the Kalyana Chalukyas, and the capital was established in the city of Pampa - who was married to Virupaksha, a form of Shiva and is also believed to be the land of Kishkinda or Ramayana.- Anirudh talks about the layout of Hampi, which was described by many travellers as one of the biggest and wealthiest cities in the world.- The city is divided into the sacred centre and the royal enclosure. The sacred centre mushroomed around the Virupaksha temple. The royal enclosure was a bit further away and consisted of the royal residences.- Close to the sacred centre is the Hampi Bazaar, a crowded bazaar that was frequented by travellers and traders from different parts of the sub-continent and even abroad.- We also discuss about the Vittala Temple complex built by one of the famous Vijayanagara rulers - Krishna Deva Raya, and the layers of history within the temple complex: From musical pillars to the story behind the chariot.- Anirudh also calls out other important places in the ruins, from the hills of Hemakuta and Mathanga, to the Tungabhadra river and the hippie town and it's stories!- The royal enclosure has several important structures like the elephant stables, Lotus Mahal, Navami Tibba, Hazara Rama temple, Queens bath, pushkarni and many other important structures.- Finally, Anirudh talks about the fall of the great empire in the war of Talikota to a coalition of the Deccan Sultanate.Links:Link to Anirudh's podcast:"Echoes of India" - https://ivmpodcasts.com/echoes-of-india-a-history-podcast"Yuddha" - https://ivmpodcasts.com/yuddhaFollow Anirudh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AKanisettiFollow Anirudh on IG: https://www.instagram.com/aniryuddha/Picture credits:Ayush Kumar @soul.traveller.kumar on IGThank you Ayush!(https://www.instagram.com/soul.traveller.kumar/)Attribution:Battle music:Sota War (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/sounds/258207/) by YleArkisto (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/) is licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Edwina D'Souza from the blog wannabemaven.com!Today's destination: Bastar, ChattisgarhNearest Airport: Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur (RPR)Nearest Railway Station: Jagdalpur Railway Station (JDB)Prerequisites: Local tour guide/agency, reservations for all stays. Unexplored Bastar does a great job with travel in the state.Packing: Pack according to the weatherTime of the year: AprilLength of the itinerary: 5 daysItinerary Highlights:- We start off the conversation with the geography and history of the Bastar region as well as the connection with epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata- We also discuss the misconceptions and realities about safety of a solo traveler, as well as the naxalite movement.- Edwina begins her journey from Raipur, making a stop at Dhamtari. Dhamteri is famous for the Gangrel dam as well as it's likeness to Goa! One should definitely enjoy the two places relaxing.- The next pitstop is at Jabarra, spending time with some locals, this place is famous for its rich sal trees and timber.- Gond, Baiga, Korba, Abhuj Maria, Bison Horn Maria are some of the prominent tribes of the region.- The next point of interest is the Kailash caves, believed to be over a thousand years old and is popular for the underground caves and their stalactite and stalagmite formations. The caves, along with Kutumsar caves, form the backbone of the nature biosphere of Bastar.- The next stop was Teerathgarh falls, the milky white cascading water falls that add to the natural beauty of Bastar. Additionally, the Chitrakoot falls are one of the biggest (widest) waterfall of Bastar measuring over 300m wide.- Another core component of the Bastar region is the 'haat' or weekly market. Picking up a small memento or souvenir from the weekly haats (tokapal haat in our case) does wonders for the local economy. - The banned sport of cockfighting is also a common occurrence on on the haats of Bastar and gives a view of the practices of the Edwina also attends some of the processions of the tribals.- The next event Edwina goes to is the Ghotpal Madai or the village fair. The madais are a popular attraction of the locals and everything from singing to dances and commerce takes place at these fairs. The important art forms like Dhokra art can also be found at such fairs.- Another popular festival of Bastar is the Dussehra festival, which is different from they Mysore Dussehra and goes on for 75 days - the longest festival in the world!- Edwina also talks about the quirky food preferences including the 'red ant chutney' or chapra, the local beverage 'salfi' and the kadaknath chicken or the black chicken!- Finally Edwina covers off some interesting things like the paintings of the tribals as well as their graves.Links:Link to the Edwina's blog: https://wannabemaven.comLink to the tour agency: https://www.unexploredbastar.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/wannabemavenTwitter: https://twitter.com/wannabemavenIG: https://www.instagram.com/wannabemaven/Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sampath Menon as he takes us around the coastal town of Mangaluru!Today's destination: Mangaluru, KarnatakaNearest Airport: Mangalore International airport (IXE)Nearest Railway Station: Mangalore Junction (MAJN)Prerequisites : n/aPacking : pack according to the weather, summers can be hot!Time of the year : Winter months from November to January is a good timeLength of the itinerary: 3-10 daysItinerary Highlights:- Sampath starts off by speaking about the rich history of Mangaluru and the various names it has been known as over time - Mangalore, Manjaran, Kudla, Kodial, Maikala- Sampath calls out the various temples in the city, starting from Mangala Devi temple, after which Mangaluru is named, Kadri temple, Gokarnatheshwar, Venkatramana temple, Saravu temple among others. In the vicinity are temples of Udupi, Kollur Mookambika temple, Dharmasthala, Ananthpura lake temple, Shringeri mutt and Jain Temples of Moodbidri and Karkala!- Along with the temples, some iconic churches are a must visit - Rosario church, Aloysious chapel, Milagres church- Beaches in Mangalore are quite unique and a popular tourist spot. The important beaches include Someshwar beach, Tannirbhavi beach, Kaup beach, Suratkal beach, Panambur beach, Padubidri beach and St. Mary's island.- Don't forget to catch up on the international kite festival if you are in town during the event. Another new addition is a cycling trail along the coast!- Once you are done with the beaches, you can catch up on the Pilikula wildlife sanctuary a well maintained zoo.- Mangalore is also famous for the tiles -the famous Mangalore tiles with Albuquerque tile factory a possible visit.- Coming to the food choices, Mangalore is a world in itself. From Bonda juice (tender coconut juice), Mangalore bajji, Mangalore buns, patrode, Gole bajje, patoli, neer dosa, ghee roast, kundapur chicken, fish fry and the lest we forget the popular Gudbud ice cream!- Mangalore is also rich in culture right from the Yakshagana form or dance/performance to the hulivesha and Karadivesha dances. Dusshera celebration is also one of the popular festivals that draws in large crowds.- Nearby places like Udupi, Bekal fort and Chikmagalur are great options for a short trip!Links:Links to the blogpost:Why visit Mangalore:https://sampathmk.com/great-destinations-mangalore-indiahttps://sampathmk.com/my-perfect-day-in-my-city-mangalore Pilikula Heritage Village:https://sampathmk.com/nikon-photo-walk-pilikula-heritage-villageThe vegetarian crocodile:https://sampathmk.com/in-search-of-the-vegetarian-crocSultan Battery:https://sampathmk.com/sultan-bateri-tipus-watch-towerMangalore Intl Kite festival:https://sampathmk.com/kite-festival-in-mangaloreMoodbidre Jain temple:https://sampathmk.com/a-jain-temple-and-a-giant-statueNearby Murudeshwar:https://sampathmk.com/that-trip-to-murudeshwarNearby Chikmagalorehttps://sampathmk.com/a-few-days-in-chikmagalurhttps://sampathmk.com/chikmagalur-into-the-rains (ChikNearby North Kerala:https://sampathmk.com/north-kerala-places-to-visitBakel Fort:https://sampathmk.com/amazing-bakelOdhens sea food:Kannur: https://sampathmk.com/dog-cafe-dosas-moreOyster Operahttps://sampathmk.com/oyster-opera-great-settings-good-food Nearby Dharmasthala:https://sampathmk.com/a-day-in-dharmasthalaLink to the blog:https://sampathmk.comIG: @sampathmkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sampath.menon.7Twitter: @sampathmenonFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode#Kartarpur #Sikh #Gurunanak #pakistan #sikhism #pilgrimage #border #holy #gurudwara #love #peace #brotherhood ==================================== Winners of the book giveaway contest on the Pondicherry episode: Mohan and Shruti! We will reach out to you shortly!====================================This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Abhishek Vaid, founder of the Untravel Show as he takes us across the Indo-Pak border to the holy gurudwara of Kartarpur Sahib, the place where Guru Nanak spent the last years of his life! Today's destination: Kartarpur, Pakistan!  Nearest Airport: Raja Sansi Airport, Amritsar Nearest Railway Station: Dera Baba Nanak Prerequisites :  You need an ETA - electronic transfer authorization to travel and passport is mandatory, even though there is no visa stamped on the passport. Look up the process and requirements on https://prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in/kpr/ Packing :  Avoid carrying anything that you would not carry on a plane (carry-on)  Time of the year :  Round the year (but watch out for the political situation and COVID-19!) Length of the itinerary: 1 day Itinerary Highlights: - Start from Amritsar and drive/take local transportation to Dera Baba Nanak. - Complete your immigration formalities at this post, the experience is very hospitable. One can apply no earlier than 15 days before the planned date of travel.- A bus ferries you from Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur, it is a short journey of 4kms. - Make sure to carry 20USD/1800INR as the fee has to be paid at Kartarpur. - Start early so that you get to Kartarpur around 9am. The latest you can get in is about 2pm since you have to return by 4pm IST. - Each visitor is allowed to carry items up to 7kgs. Cameras and photography is allowed. - Kartarpur is significant as the first guru and founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak spent the final 18 years of his life here. - The corridor was opened after years of lobbying by both the governments and important members of the Sikh community. - The corridor now leads to the Kartarpur Sahib gurudwara which is one of the largest gurdwaras of the world. - Built in white marble, the gurudwara complex has an elegant and simple look, very different from the Golden temple in Amritsar, one of the other important places of Sikh pilgrimage. - The gurudwara is an epitome of calmness and tranquility, despite of its size and the crowds of people. - The main shrine has day long prayers and darshan and the community kitchen/langar severs food to the pilgrims for the full day. - The complex also has a well that is from the time of Guru Nanak devji, a monument of the Kirpaan or dagger as well as a small market to buy souvenirs. There is also a muslim shrine in the vicinity. - One of the highpoint of the visit, besides the opportunity to pay homage to Guru Nanak is the chance to interact with Pakistani locals who travel here to interact with folks from across the border. - The ambience is that of peace, calmness and friendship and very different from the Wagah border where patriotism and aggression is more evident. - A great opportunity for not just followers of sikhism but others as well to visit a historical and religiously significant place across the border when the option is available! Links: Link to the video log:  How an Indian can go to Pakistan | The Kartarpur Corridor Experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcoorOvh5G8 10 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE VISITING KARTARPUR SAHIB | Documents, passport stamping, fees etc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfGv-TQlIasFacebook: The Untravel Show (https://www.facebook.com/TheUntravelShow/)IG: @the.untravel.show (https://www.instagram.com/the.untravel.show/) Photo by Ali Rizvi on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.com Apple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#beaches #cafes #French #colonial #folklore #aurobindo #ashram #photography #auroville #art #streetphotography #villas #quaint #finedining #unionterritory #UTGIVE-AWAY ALERT!!!------------------------------Listen to the episode, answer 3 simple questions in the form below and stand a chance to win a copy of Aditi's book! Open for two weeks!https://forms.gle/Mmb5jgx5mzsTXT7K7Alternately, you can buy the book here!https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07PS1SLXP/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1=======================================The Musafir Stories mentioned in an article on the Wall Street Journal!! Thank you dear guests and listeners!!=======================================This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Aditi Sriram, a traveler, a teacher and author of "Beyond the Boulevards - a short biography of Pondicherry"Today's destination - Pondicherry a.k.a PuducherryNearest Airport - Puducherry airport, PNYNearest Railway Station - Puducherry railway station, PDYPrerequisites - Read the book!Packing - pack light for humid weatherTime of the year -  Round the year, summers are HOT!Length of the itinerary - Depends!Itinerary Highlights:- Aditi talks about the backstory of the book and how she came about meeting the editors.- After covering how she got the lucky break, Aditi begins be drawing out the orientation of Pondicherry, some of it's historic milestones, the Arikamedu connection and the conquest by colonial powers, and the journey up until independence and beyond.- We talk more about the French connection, it's history and how it has played out in the modern day Puducherry.- Aditi speaks about the layout of the city, how the city was segregated into the various quarters and the distinguishing factors.- We discuss about unique identity of the town, some important citizens like Aurobindo Ghose and his journey, Auroville and the mother.- We also delve upon some of the popular folklore of the city, the Aayi Mandapam and it's connection to Napolean.- Aditi wraps up the conversation by calling out how even though POndichery is seen as a narrow strip of land comprising of the French and Tamil quarters, it has deep rooted connections to the history of the city.Links:Link to Aditi's book:https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07PS1SLXP/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1Aditi's Twitter: https://twitter.com/sriram_aditiAditi's IG: https://www.instagram.com/sriramaditi/Photo by Vivek Sharma on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#spirituality #religion #temples #pilgrimage #history #ganges #uttarpradesh #aarti #food #alleys #streets #hinduism #jainism #sikhism #art #music #literature #streetfood #hippie #sadhuThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Arjun Narayanan, a journalist and host of Madraswallah Podcast!Today's destination- Varanasi, UPNearest Airport- Lal Bahadur Shastri AirportNearest Railway Station- Varanasi Junction railway stationPrerequisites - preparation and researchPacking - Dress appropriately as some of the temples might require modest attireTime of the year - November to FebruaryLength of the itinerary- 4 daysItinerary Highlights:- Arjun plans and reads ahead of time before visiting historically significant places like Varanasi.- We talk about the history and the religious significance of Varanasi, the deep relationship with Ganges and the beliefs.- Visit Sarnath, the place where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon at the deer park. There is also a museum where you can explore ancient artifacts.- Temples to visit while in Varanasi: Sankat Mochan temple, Kashi Vishwanath temple, Kaal bhairav temple, Vishalakshi temple, Annapurna temple.- Ghats of Varanasi - best explored by walking, but you can take up a boat ride to cover them in number.- Important ghats include - Manikarnika Ghat, Harishchandra ghat, Assi ghat, Raj ghat, Guleria ghat, Dashashwamedha ghat among many others.- Watch the many aartis performed on these ghats, ranging from simple poojas to elaborate procedures, hymns and conches.- Explore the streets and alleys of Varanasi that offers a variety of street food. Some places visited by Arjun include Ram bhandaar for Kachoris, Blue lassi shop, Pehlwan lassi, Kachori gali, Poori sabzi, Ras waale aloo.- There are a number of book stores one can explore in Varanasi as well and check out some great books such as 'Bananas, the city of lights', 'Bana rahe Banaras' etc.- Varanasi also has a rich literary history like Munshi Premchand and Bhartendu Harishchandra who belong to Varanasi as well as a rich cultural history with artists like Bismillah Khan, Pandit Ravishankar, Pandit kishan maharaja, Sitara Devi etc.- Try to check out a music festival if you happen to be here during such events. Sankat mocha music festival (April), Dhrupad mela (February), Ganga Mahotsav (November), Kabir festival (December) are some music festivals of Varanasi.- Dussehra, Diwali and Dev Deepavali are among the popular festivals of Varanasi.- Also consider making a visit to BHU - Banaras Hindu University if you have the time for it. It is one of the largest universities of Asia. Popular are the model of the Kashi Vishwanath temple on its campus as well as Bharat Kala Kendra which is a popular museum.- Finally don't forget to check out some Benarasi sarees and try out the Benarasi Paan along with Bhaang from a government authorized outlets!Links:Link to the Madraswallah podcast:https://madraswallah.com/category/podcasts-2/Shout out to CreativeAudios.in. Check out their podcast on:https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yMmIwNzA5NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==Photo by Srivatsan on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode: #mountains #valleys #trekking #flowers #nature #hiking #roadtrip #author #Uttarakhand #book #botany #mountaineer #Hemkund #pilgrimage #sikhThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Susan Jagannath, a best selling author and traveler as she takes us to the Valley of Flowers, with her new book titled 'The Valley of Flowers - The Ultimate guide to an adventure trek in the upper Himalaya' Today's destination: Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand!  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradun  Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh Prerequisites: Physical fitness, carry a form of ID (passport for foreigners) Packing: Pack layers of clothes (warm, rain) along with hiking gear Time of the year: June to September Length of the itinerary: 10 daysItinerary Highlights: - The Valley of Flowers (VoF) is a beautiful monsoon trek to the valley hidden in the heights of Uttarakhand in the Himalayan mountains, filled with carpets flowers, over 500 species that bloom during June - September- Susan heads to the Valley of Flowers with her band of friends in the month of August. The trip inspired Susan to write the book (the only previous book written about this was in the early 1900s by British mountaineer Frank Smythe who discovered this place)- The Valley is very close to Badrinath and the religious circuit of Chota Chardhaam. - Given that the valley is situated at a high altitude (14400 ft), it is imperative that one acclimatizes sufficiently. Hence traveling slowly and stopping over at other interesting places like Auli is a great option. - Gobind Ghat is the road head for the trek. One needs to trek from here to the base village Gangharia. - The Valley of Flowers national park is open only between 7-5PM, so it is advised to head to Gangharia the previous day and rest before heading to the VoF. - It is roughly a 10km trek from Gangharia to the VoF, so you will need to make the trip to the VoF and back the same day as staying there is not allowed. - One can either trek or avail the services of porters or a mule. The porters can carry you in bags called pittoos. - Options for food and lodging are plentiful in Ghangharia and around although the nicer places will need you to book accommodation  in advance. - The Ecocenter in Gangharia has a documentary screening every few hours that gives you information about the flora of the place. There are options to hire local guides from the centre who are very competent and knowledgeable. - Some of the flowers one can find are orchids, poppies, primulas, marigold, daisies, rhododendrons, Himalayan rose, Blue poppy, cobra lily amongst others. Best time is to visit after the monsoons since the flowers are in full bloom. - The Pushpavati river and some smaller streams criss cross as you walk from Gangharia to the VoF where you have to register yourself and pay the fee which is good for 3 days. - Milestones within the park include a big rock (baman pair), a glacier point and the grave of a botanist, Joanne Leigh. One can also trek to Badrinath all the way from the VoF with the help of a guide. - Hemkund Sahib is a separate trek which also starts from Gangharia and leads tot he very sacred Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib. Hemkund Sahib is at a height of over 15,000 ft. So precautions for AMS are necessary. - There is a langar service as well as accommodation for traveler in the Gurudwara. Other options around the area are Auli, Badrinath and the Chota CHardham locations.   Links: Link to the book: The Valley of Flowers: The Ultimate Guide to an Adventure Trek in the Upper Himalaya https://www.amazon.in/Valley-Flowers-Ultimate-Adventure-Himalaya-ebook/dp/B087V3YGTF Link to the blog:https://susanjagannath.com/basic-guide-valley-flowers-2/  Shoutouts: Shabby and Man podcast! https://shabbyandman.podbean.com Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode: #Bhubaneswar #Odisha #East #culture #temples #art #architecture #dance #odissi #tribal #history #art #Ashoka #Kalinga #Jagannath #rathyatra #rasgulla #buddhism #hertiage #walkingtour This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ayush Kumar as he takes us to another hidden gem in India!Today's destination: Bhubaneswar, Odisha!Nearest Airport: Biju Patnaik Airport, BBINearest Railway Station: Bhubaneswar Railway Station, BBSPrerequisites -  NAPacking - Pack according to the weatherTime of the year - Winter months from November to Jan is the best time to visit!Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days to a week!Itinerary Highlights:- Ayush starts off by sharing important historical anecdotes about the city, the city that has been witness to some significant historical events like the Kalinga war!- Bhubaneswar is also known as the temple city and rightly so, has been home to over 2000 temples in the past. The important temples to visit include Lingaraj temple, Mukteshwar temple, Raja Rani temple, Parashurameshwara temple, Anantha vasudev temple - famous for it's serving of the temple food or Prasad!- Ayush also references the variety of food options that are indigenous to Odisha and their backstory, touching up the GI tagged foods like the Rasgulla!- Other culturally important experiences are the Odissi dance, the local music, Pottachitra (palm drawings), Bomkhai sarees, chenna poda sweet!- Other places of interest include Dhaulagiri that has some buddhist edicts from the time of King Ashoka. The region also has a number of rock cut caves that served as residences for the monks.- Not far away, there is also the Khandagiri and Udayagiri known to be Jain rock cut caves that have a number of inscriptions and served as residences for the monks.- The ancient city of Shishupalgarh, is another place that one can plan to visit while in Bhubaneswar. The excavations of this lost city from 1-2nd century BC was recently discovered and the findings continue to grow.- One can also indulge spending some time in the Odisha state museum, Tribal museum and Kalabhoomi museum. There are also miniature models of the Ratha used during the Rathyatra at the Puri temple is installed at the KalaBhoomi museum.- Nandankanan Zoo and Ekamravana are other places for ones who want to indulge in the outdoors and nature.- Finally, those who are short on time can partake in some heritage walks conducted by Ekamra Walks that covers the old city and temples.Links:Link to the Ayush's social media:IG: https://www.instagram.com/soul.traveller.kumar/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ayush.kumar.737448Cover art picture credits: Dhirendra Singh RajpurohitIG: https://www.instagram.com/dsrimagination/Battle music:Sota War (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/sounds/258207/) by YleArkisto (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/) is licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)Follow the Write & Geek Show for your weekly dose of Geek!https://www.writerandgeek.comFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#energy #clean #renewable #wind #solar #India #sustainable #technology #cleantech #kanyakumari #Kochi #Shivanasamudra #tumkur #bangalore #mumbai #mahabaleshwar #delhi #kutch #cuttack #This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Girish Shivakumar, a clean-tech evangelist who takes us on a trail of power plants in India! Today's destination: Around the power plants of India! Nearest Airport: n/a Nearest Railway Station: n/a Prerequisites -  Some plants might require permission before visiting, please reach out to the authorities as applicable.  Packing - Pack according to the weather and time of the year. Time of the year -  n/aLength of the itinerary: n/aItinerary Highlights: - Girish sets out right from the windmill farms of Kanyakumari that he visited as a youngster and reminisces how this arouse his curiosity. Other important plants in Tamil Nadu include the Neyveli thermal plant. - Kerala has been a pioneer in the move towards renewable sources of energy, with the Kochi airport being the first in the world to be run fully by solar energy. Additional plants like floating solar plants and a move towards electric vehicles is also high on the priority for the government. - Karnataka has important power plants like Shivanasamudra (Hydel), Pavgada (solar) as well as initiatives like the solar panels for Chinnaswamy stadium. - Moving on to Maharashtra, it is important to note that smaller factories like Mapro of Mahabaleshwar are run by solar energy. Additionally, Mumbai metro has solar panels in almost 30% of its stations. - Gujarat, being one of the first states with power surplus, has the famous Charanka solar power plant. Kutch is also a place where there are a lot of wind mills, but is also gearing up for off-shore wind projects in the sea. Baruch has a gas power plant which is also prominent. - Rajasthan is next on the radar, where Girish enjoyed visiting some local points of interest like Mehrangarh fort and other places in Jodhpur. - The eastern part of India are also slowly catching up with Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar in Odisha having some important captive power plants. - Finally the capital has made some important strides with a lot of the Delhi metro stations being run by solar power. Parts of UP have had good success with micro grids. - Plants to look out for in the future include solar projects in Ladakh and Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar islands. Links: Link to the website: https://girishshivakumar.comGirish's Podcast - Mission Shunya : https://audioboom.com/channel/mission-shunya Mission Shunya on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/mission-shunya/id1460138702Or search for 'Mission Shunya' on any of your favorite Podcast App.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionShunya/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/missionshunya IG: https://www.instagram.com/mission_shunya/ Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.com Apple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#Meghalaya #NorthEast #adventure #caves #lost #stalactite #stalagmite #nature #KremLymput #underground #caving #suspense #ecology #geologyThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Khaliq Parkar, a researcher and social scientist as he shares his adventures in the caves of Meghalaya!Today's destination: Krem Lymput caves, Meghalaya Nearest Airport: Shillong airport, SHLNearest Railway Station: Guwahati Railway station, GHYPrerequisites - Inner line permit for some states in the North East (https://services.india.gov.in/service/detail/e-ilp-inner-line-permit)Packing - Make sure to carry a pair of hiking shoes for good grip, powerful torch and backup, energy food for the trip.Time of the year -  Avoid the monsoons (July to September)Length of the itinerary: Per your convenienceItinerary Highlights:- Khaliq and his friend, Xavier, set out to explore the north east and one of the most memorable experiences during the trip was their trip to the underground caves of Meghalaya.- The caves date back to millions of years ago and have been formed by the water percolation and gradual dripping of water, primarily from rains and monsoons and dripping through the rocks resulting in beautiful formations.- The duo decide to set out on a cave adventure when waiting for the ILP and other permits required for travel.- Meghalaya has a bunch of caves including Mawlong caves, Mawsmai caves and a bunch of other caves the most famous being Krem Lyat Prah which is 30kms long and is the longest underground cave formation in India.- Khaliq and Xavier decide on Krem Lymput, a medium sized cave about 6 kms long and head out to explore. Enroute the mouth of the cave, they run into a group of boys from the local village who offer their powerful torch which the duo gladly accept.- The expedition begins around 9:30AM and the plan was to trek till a prominent landmark within the cave complex called the "Mughal Room" which is a huge enclosure with a height of about 20 ft and at a distance of about 2kms with stunning stalactite and stalagmite formations.- The complex is almost like a mesh of caves, passages and walkways that connect and form a network. The cave is filled with water puddles at points and stalactites (projections from the ceilings) and stalagmites( projections from the ground). These can range from a few inches to a few feet high!- The duo pass through a number of interesting formations, rocks, knee high puddles, dripping water and pin drop silence. Some of the pools were crystal clear and felt like a completely different world with its own eco-system.- The trip to the Mughal Room was quite exciting and both Khaliq and Xavier were enthralled by what they saw, capturing photographs on the way and marvelling at the nothingness and deprivation of sound and light within the caves.- The trip to the Mughal Room takes about 2 hours and there is a feel of elation on reaching the summit. After taking pictures and resting for a few minutes, the duo starts their journey back, only to run into unfamiliar passages.- When this happens on two or three occasions, Khaliq and Xavier decide to take a step back and retrace their footsteps which leads to more panic as all exits lead to a dead ends. Almost 2 hours of deliberation and trying and the duo discovers some footsteps trailing from a passage way that was above them.- The realization strikes that they have been descending all along and thus have missed out on taking the right passage way back. On discovering this, they start their journey back and repeat the marking exercise and narrowing down on the return options.- After more deliberations, they finally retrace their way back to the mouth, where they are greeted by the sounds of crickets! Success at last, almost 6 hours later!- Khaliq also discusses about options one should consider which primary includes trekking with the Meghalaya adventure association which does a number of expeditions for beginners as well as pros.- He also calls out some threats that the caves face from mining for limestone for cement factories that is endangering the cave ecosystem and how the Meghalaya Adventure association are spreading awareness and activism.Links:Link to the Caravan article:https://caravanmagazine.in/vantage/caves-meghalaya-and-threat-posed-limestone-and-coal-mining-posesPictures by Khaliq:https://imgur.com/a/OBB7egDLink to Meghalaya adventurer's association:https://www.facebook.com/Meghalaya-Adventurers-Association-488002144653544/ Follow Khaliq on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khaliq.parkarand Follow him on IG: https://www.instagram.com/outofstockq/Nikhil Shankar's podcast - Get Out!http://getoutpodcast.comFollow Nikhil on IG: https://www.instagram.com/pichidodo/ Photo by Adam Bixby on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#Manali #HimachalPradesh #Himachal #offbeat #oldmanali #oldcity #walking #trail #trekking #hiking #temples #hotsprings #architecture #himachali #naggar #vashisht #kathkuni #zorbing #river #rafting #beas #yoga #nature #mountains #himalayasThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Priyanka Gupta from the blog onmycanvas.com as she takes us offbeat in Manali! Today's destination: Manali, Himachal Pradesh    Nearest Airport: Bhuntar airport (50kms) Nearest Railway Station: Joginder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh (50kms) Nearest Bus Station: Kullu (40kms) Prerequisites:  n/a Packing: pack some light layers of wool as mornings and evenings can be chilly. Warmer clothes are required for the winters Time of the year: October to Feb is a good time to enjoy the snow, March to July is best for summers  Length of the itinerary: 5-6 days Itinerary Highlights: - Priyanka sets her sight on Old Manali to explore having already visited New Manali in the past. Just crossover the bridge from New Manali to wander off in the less explored older Manali- Old Manali is more laid back with a lot of homestays and old rickety wooden cottages, apple orchards and friendly locals. The best thing to do in Old Manali is to wander off with google maps handy to ensure you don't get lost. One can also explore close by villages like Bari which are rich with the nature and in the vicinity of river Beas. - While in Manali, make sure to try out the rainbow trout, juicy apples and the local dishes like Siddu. - Naggar is another village that is not far away (20kms) and has a lot of points to cover. There are a lot of beautiful temples like Gauri Shankar temple, Vishnu temple with stunning Himachal architecture (nagara style) with stone shikharas and a wooden level on top. - Naggar castle is the seat of Kullu kings for a long time before it was moved to Kullu. The castle is built in a beautiful kathakuni architecture is made mostly of stone and an upper wooden level. The castle is now a heritage hotel and also houses a small temple and a museum. - Other points of interest include the Nicholas Roerich museum, the home of the famous Russian painter and traveler which has now been converted to a museum. - After spending a day or two in Naggar, another option is the Vashisht village about 5-6 Kms from Old Manali which is where the Rishi Vashisht is believed to have meditated. Must see places include the Vashisht temple, the hot springs and the Jogini falls. Other famous temples include the Manu temple and Hidimba Devi temple which are situated within Manali. - Spiti valley is another spot that is pretty close to Manali and deserves an itinerary of itself. You can check out our podcast on Spiti for more places. - If you want to indulge in some adventure activity, one can sign up for river rafting in the Beas river, Zorbing, paragliding (viral paragliding video!) are some options. Links:Link to Priyanka's blogpost: https://www.onmycanvas.com/best-places-visit-manali-itinerary/https://www.onmycanvas.com/places-visit-naggar-manali-himachal/Spiti blogpost:https://www.onmycanvas.com/spiti-valley-travel-blog/Link to Priyanka's blog: https://www.onmycanvas.comSocial media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priyanka_onmycanvas/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/guptapranky Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onmycanvasblog/ Thank you for doing the episode introduction, Girish Shivakumar! You can check out the Mission Shunya podcast on your favourite podcast app and follow on social mediaWebsite: https://missionshunya.comTwitter: Mission Shunya Podcast: hhttps://twitter.com/missionshunyaGirish Shivakumar: https://twitter.com/SivakumarGirish  Other episodes mentioned in the podcast:Naggar/Nicholas Roerich - https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/paintings-of-the-himalayas-with-medhavi-gandhi/ Spiti - https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/tms005-explore-spiti-with-the-desi-traveler/Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#Munnar #Kerala #tea #plantations #mountains #nature #treks #kathakali #art #dance #martialarts #roadtrip #family #waterfalls #ponds #sunrise #spices #nilgiri #tahr #neelakuruji #boating #elephants This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sangeetha as we explore the Kashmir of the South, Munnar! Today's destination: Munnar, Kerala Nearest Airport: Kochi International airport (110kms) Nearest Railway Station: Aluva, Kerala (110kms) Prerequisites - n/a Packing - pack some light layers of wool as mornings and evenings can be chilly Time of the year - September to Feb is a good time to visit Length of the itinerary: 5 days Itinerary Highlights: - Sangeetha travels with her family by flying from Bangalore to Kochi and driving down to Munnar, this way one can enjoy the beautiful drive leading up to Munnar. - The first day is spent seeing around the resort and visiting the Blossom Hydel Park, a park formed by a Hydel power station and has some fun activities for kids. One could spend between 2-3 hours at the park enjoying the beautiful views. - Close the park is the Pothamedu view point where one can drive to and enjoy some stunning views of the tea plantations along with picture perfect view of the valley. - To experience the rich cultural heritage of the Kerala, Sangeetha visits the Punarjeevi Cultural village to enjoy a Katahakali show next. Kathakali is the popular dance form of Kerala that is based on a song/dance performance to the stories of Mahabharatha and other epics. The beautiful costumes, face paint and expression of the artists is something one should not miss out. - The next day begins with a short trek organized by the resort where Sangeetha gets to learn more about the local flora and fauna of the place. The trek is not very strenuous and can be done with ease. - Following the morning trek, the family drives down to Eravikulam National park, the first national park of Kerala and home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. The park also sees the blooming of the Neelakurunji flowers once every 12 years. Make sure to plan your visit to the park well as waiting times can be a hinderance, specially on weekends. - Following the visit to the park, the family drives towards the Anamudi peak - the highest peak in Kerala. The peak is a monolith and offers some stunning views on a clear day. There are also options to trek a part of the peak if one is up for it. - Next on the itinerary is a visit to Mattupettey Dam where one can indulge in boating and a few other fun rides. There is also an Echo point, not far away from the dam where you can go shout your lungs out. If you are lucky, you can also run into a herd of elephants grazing the meadows close to the dam! - After having fun with the speed boat ride, the family heads back to the Punarjeevi cultural village for an evening of Kalaripayattu - the very popular martial arts form of Kerala that is believed to have originated in the 3rd century BCE. One can watch the performers battle it out with swords, dagger and fire! - The other must do trip while in Munnar is a drive up to the Kolukumalai peak - one of the higher peaks in Kerala that is also home to the world's highest organic tea estate, the Kolukumalai tea estate. An early morning drive makes a great spot for watching the sunrise from the peak. PS: Don't miss the bread omelette sold by a little tea stall on the peak! - It is better to sign up with a tour company to drive you up the peak as the drive can be quite bumpy. The estate has a very old wooden tea factory that still produces tea in the orthodox style, there are tours of the tea factory available that are worth the time. There are treks around the area that one can take part in as well. - Other places of interest in Kerala include a variety of waterfalls, beautiful lakes, tea museums and some great food! One can easily spend a week in Munnar and enjoy the lush green tea gardens and the vistas and still end up wanting more! Links: Link to Sangeetha's blogpost: https://msangeetha.wordpress.com/2019/10/22/munnar-the-land-of-the-mighty-mountains/ Link to Sangeetha's blog: https://msangeetha.wordpress.com/ You can check out the Passion People podcast on your favourite podcast app and follow on social media Passion People Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7A1tBp7leAD8egg2SknxMX Twitter: Passion People podcast: https://twitter.com/thepassionpeop1 Naga Subramanya: https://twitter.com/n1n3stuff Photo by Vivek Kumar on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#Spiti #Himachal #HimachalPradesh #valley #offbeat #desert #kaza #market #buddhist #monastery #prayerflags #lakes #chandrataal #himalayas #roadtrip #clouds #dhankar #ki #meditation #ecotourismThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Prasad NP, also known as the 'desi Traveler'. Prasad shares his story about the time he spent traveling the Spiti Valley, Dhankar lake, Chandratal Lake and the beautiful Monasteries around. So sit back and enjoy listening! Today's destination: Spiti -- Kaza, Chandratal Lake, Ki Monastery, Dhankar Lake in Himachal Pradesh Nearest airport: Manali or via Shimla; Nearest Railway Station: Shimla railway station; Joginder Nagar railway station Direct buses are available from Chandigarh, Shimla, Kullu, Manali etc Packing - Sunglasses, sunscreen, hats/umbrella, warm clothes, a good pair of shoes, medicines for AMS Time of the year - June to September Length of the itinerary: 7-10 days Itinerary Highlights: Spend a day in Manali to acclimatize yourself to the higher altitudes  Start from Manali to Kaza - its about 12-14 hours by road. It is advisable to hire a cab/guide from Manali for your entire trip. Kaza can serve as the base - lodging in the Himachal tourism hotel; visit the Kaza monastery and kaza market.  Enjoy the beautiful star trails at night from the rooftop of the hotel. Savour on some flavorful spitian food that is also influenced by tibetan cuisine Make a short stop to Ki Monastery, Enjoy the blue skies and cotton candy clouds, meet with the monks and get a beautiful view of the kaza city from the rooftop.  Enjoy the awesome Himalayan tea offered from the Ki monastery's kitchen. If you are lucky, you could get a chance to interact with the monks help them with plucking sweet peas from the farm.  Make a visit to the Dhankar monastery which is about 2 hours from Kaza, getting some beautiful shots along the way.  Trek to the Dhankar lake, which is about an hour's hike from the monastery. Be sure to have a good pair of walking shoes on, some sunscreen to ward off the sun, and keep hydrated!  Drive to the Langza Village, stay with the locals, enjoy interactions with the locals, partake in their daily chores like farming and weaving.  Camp close to the Chandratal lake - the crescent shaped perennial lake that is also one of the source of the Chandra/Chenab River.  Trek to the Chandratal lake early in the morning to enjoy the fabulous view of the lake with golden peaks in the backdrop as the sun ascends. Make a stop at the amazing Kunzum pass. Capture the pictures of the snow clad peaks, gompas and fluttering colourful prayer flags. Head back to Manali.  Last but not the least, listen to some funny stories and useful advise on how to travel responsibly! Links: desitraveler.com/ Links to the blog posts: desitraveler.com/dhankar-lake-trek-spiti/ desitraveler.com/travel-kunzum-pass-kunzum-la/ More about the Guest: desitraveler.com/travel-tips-blog…dia-photography/ twitter: @desiTraveler facebook: facebook.com/thedesitravelerOfficial instagram: www.instagram.com/desitraveler/Follow The Musafir Stories onTwitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode: #Khajuraho #MadhyaPradesh #temples #architecture #erotic #sculptures #architecture #history #folklore #religion #UNESCO #heritage #cycling #walking #tour #museum #spirituality #sex #taboo #archaeologyThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Tarun and Pournima, two of our dear listeners and two budding doctors about their trip to Khajuraho!Today's destination: Khajuraho, MPNearest Airport: Khajuraho airportNearest Railway Station: Khajuraho or Mahoba stationPrerequisites - n/aPacking -  Make sure to pack according to the weather as summers can be hot.Time of the year -  NovemberLength of the itinerary: 3 daysItinerary Highlights:- Tarun and Pournima set off on a 3 day itinerary to explore the myths and truths around the UNESCO world heritage site - Khajuraho- The duo talk about the motivation and inspiration for their travel to Khajuraho and the background of the famed temples of Khajuraho that are home to some erotic sculptures.- Day 1 is spent relaxing and visiting Matangeshwar temple, perhaps the only functional temple in the region.- Day 2 was a busy day right from the morning starting off with a visit to the Western temple complex, the most well maintained and elaborate group of temples. The Western group of temples comprises of Kandariya Mahadev temple, Lakshmana temple, Jagadambi temple, Vishwanath temple, Chitragupt temple and smaller temples of Varaha and Nandi.- Tarun and Pournima also talk extensively about the backstory of some of the sculptures. Must utilize the services of a guide to get the most out of this visit.- There is also an Archaeological museum close to the Western group of temples that is a must visit.- Eastern group of temples include a Jain group of temples along with Jowari temple, Vamana temple among others.- Chaturbhuj temple - the only temple facing west and Dulhadev temple are a part of the southern group of temples. The duo also visit the sound and light show in the evening to cap off a very fruitful day.- Day 3 is more about revisiting some temples and photography before heading back to Nagpur.Links:Link to the blogpost: https://www.tripoto.com/trip/khajuraho-where-sex-is-sacred-5cbcdc86a6906Link to the blog: https://www.tripoto.com/profile/tarunasati1272653IG: @pournima.kole @tarun_asati Image by Rinki Lohia from Pixabay Follow The Musafir Stories onTwitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#Bandhavgarh #safari #nationalpark #jungle #forest #tiger #documentary #filmmaker #conservation #stories #solo #rajbheraThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Suyash Keshari - a young wildlife filmmaker and presenter as he takes us on a safari to Bandhavgarh, the tiger capital of India!Today's destination: Bandhavgarh, Madhya PradeshNearest Airport: Jabalpur airport, JLRNearest Railway Station: UmariaPrerequisites -  Make reservations ahead of timePacking - Pack clothes according to weather, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug repellant, poncho, cameraTime of the year - October to MarchLength of the itinerary: 2-3 daysItinerary Highlights:- Suyash talks about his interest in wildlife and how he took the bold decision to take the plunge and follow his passion- He also discusses how the series 'Safari with Suyash' came about after a partnership with WWF (World Wildlife Fund)- Suyash talks about Bandhavgarh and the protagonist of his series - Solo, the daughter of the famous tigress Rajbhera, who was featured in the BBC documentary, Dynasties.- The youtube series "Safari with Suyash" focuses on Solo and her cubs and how they represent the future of this magnificent species. Make sure to watch the season 1 which is out on youtube now. Season 2 airs later in 2020.Links:Safari with Suyash - Season 1https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2nGhEGXFVslobIwOGgQjqPbzgaMAVTnEp1: https://youtu.be/ia4SRQcM7cgEp2: https://youtu.be/z6qgAzCyWc4Ep3: https://youtu.be/FwyK52Fih0kEp4: https://youtu.be/DGFefW9rST8Ep5: coming soonLink to the Suyash's blog: https://suyashkeshari.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/suyash.keshariTwitter: https://twitter.com/suyashkeshari96IG: https://www.instagram.com/suyashkeshari/Follow The Musafir Stories onTwitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#Bangalore #Bengaluru #city #walking #siliconvalley #southindia #museums #restaurants #parks #fort #palace #citytour #history #cultureContest Alert!Celebrating the festive season and new year by giving away a copy of 'Globetrotting for Love and other stories from Sakhalin island' by Ajay Kamalakaran. Just answer the question in the form and stand a chance to win Ajay's book!This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Malavika and Vitasta from Travel.Earth as we explore Namma Bengaluru!Today's destination: Bengaluru! Nearest Airport: Kempe Gowda International AirportNearest Railway Station: Bangalore City Railway StationPrerequisites -  N/APacking -  Carry some water and a wear a good pair of walking shoes!Time of the year -  November to January is a great time to visit Bengaluru Length of the itinerary:  A Weekend itineraryItinerary Highlights: - The duo set out on exploring Bangalore starting off with a delicious breakfast at Koshy’s - one of Bangalore’s erstwhile restaurants, started as a bakery in 1940 and has since been managed by successive generations of the family. Make sure to try out the Koshy’s bread, Fish and Chips and some yummy desserts. - The next stop is a quick walk to St. Mark’s Cathedral - inspired by St Paul’s Cathedral in London, this magnificent church is dedicated to St Mark the Evangelist and was founded in 1808 (and consecrated in 1816).- At a stone’s throw away from the cathedral is Chinnaswamy stadium - a very popular stadium which is also the home ground of RCB - Royal challengers Bangalore.- The next pitstop is Cubbon Park, named after Mark Cubbon, the Commissioner of Mysore State. It is a huge park with an area of over 300 acres and has a number of beautiful statues as well, including Chamarajendra Wodeyar, Seshadri Iyer, King Edward, Queen Victoria among others. - After walking around for half a day, the girls have a quick bite at The only place, a great haunt for lovers of steaks and sizzlers! - The second half of the day is spent covering some beautiful museums within Cubbon park - Government Museum, Visveswaraya technology museum and Venkatappa art gallery. - Day 2 starts off with a bang, with a visit to the Bangalore palace - inspired from the Windsor Castle. Built in 1878, the palace was home to Chamarajendra Wodeyar and has some beautiful rooms inside, including the famous Darbar Hall. - The next destination on the agenda is the Bangalore fort, Bengaluru’s erstwhile fort built by the founding father Kempe Gowda and later renovated by Hyder Ali. Only a small part of the original for remains today. - At a close distance from Bangalore Fort is Tipu Sultan’s summer palace - a rustic wooden palace built of teak wood that houses some beautiful paintings and artefacts from Tipu Sultan. The upper level of the palace was used by the women of the royal family. - Other places that find mention in the podcast are Lal Bagh, another beautiful part within the city premises, famous eateries like MTR or Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, CTR or Central Tiffin Rooms, Vidyarthi Bhavan. Links:Link to the blogpost: https://travel.earth/bangaloreans-explore-bangalore-for-the-first-time/ https://travel.earth/day-2-experience-in-the-garden-city/Link to episode on Old Bengaluru: https://audioboom.com/posts/7044774-tms-specials-old-bengaluru-dargah-to-dharmaraya Link to the website: https://travel.earth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traveldotearth/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/traveldotearth IG: https://www.instagram.com/traveldotearth/ This episode is brought to you by Cambly - Cambly is the only app in India that provides on demand native English speaking tutors over video to teach English one on one.- For those who are interested in improving their fluency/communication skills, they can subscribe to Cambly's monthly or quarterly plans and practice consistently every week.- It is especially useful for those who want to better prepare for interviews, presentations and become a confident speaker. All sessions focus on what you want to improve on.- It can be accessed on the website www.cambly.com or by downloading the Cambly app from the Playstore or AppStore.- The Musafir Stories listeners can get a 32% discount on the quarterly plan by using the code "tms32"Follow the Musafir stories onTwitter: @musafirstoriesFacebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcastwebsite: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#russia #sakhlin #island #novella #nature #lifestyle #fareast #book #korea #japan #history #food #leisure Contest Alert!Celebrating the festive season and new year by giving away a copy of 'Globetrotting for Love and other stories from Sakhalin island' by Ajay Kamalakaran. Just answer the question in the form and stand a chance to win Ajay's book!This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ajay Kamalakaran, an independent journalist and novelist as he takes us to the Far East corner of the world, Sakhalin island!!Today's destination: Sakhalin island Nearest Airport: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk AirportNearest Railway Station: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk StationPrerequisites -  Please check travel documents requiredPacking - Pack for the cold!Time of the year -  Summer is ideal for Indian travellers although winter has its own charm!Length of the itinerary: NAItinerary Highlights: - Ajay talks about the hidden gem of Sakhalin island, that lies at the confluence of the north and the east, where Russia meets Japan!- Learn more about the history of the Sakhalin island, its native people, and the connection to the Japanese and Koreans. - We talk about the geographical orientation, demography and the seasons of Sakhalin. Ajay explains the favourite pass-times of Sakhalin, how he got there and life in Sakhalin, the non-Americanized version. - The oil connection of Sakhalin and preferred status for Indian citizens in terms of visas is also discussed. - Ajay talks more about his book - Globetrotting for love and other stories from Sakhalin island and what inspired the book. Links: Link to the 'Globetrotting for love and other stories from Sakhalin island: https://www.amazon.in/GLOBETROTTING-OTHER-STORIES-SAKHALIN-ISLAND/dp/9386206269Link to the Ajay's latest book, A Week in the Life of Svitlana:https://www.amazon.in/Week-Life-Svitlana-Ajay-Kamalakaran-ebook/dp/B07ZXW2GKC/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=ajay+kamalakaran&qid=1573532215&sr=8-2 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AjayKamalakaran  Photo by Alex Kotomanov on Unsplash This episode is brought to you by Cambly - Cambly is the only app in India that provides on demand native English speaking tutors over video to teach English one on one.- For those who are interested in improving their fluency/communication skills, they can subscribe to Cambly's monthly or quarterly plans and practice consistently every week.- It is especially useful for those who want to better prepare for interviews, presentations and become a confident speaker. All sessions focus on what you want to improve on.- It can be accessed on the website www.cambly.com or by downloading the Cambly app from the Playstore or AppStore.- The Musafir Stories listeners can get a 32% discount on the quarterly plan by using the code "tms32" Follow the Musafir stories onTwitter: @musafirstoriesFacebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcastwebsite: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#Landour #Uttarakhand #hillstation #mountains #cafes #nature #walks #viewpoints #sunset #woods #heritage #british #colonial #architecture #ruskinbond #books #quaint #northindia This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Aakash Mehrotra from Delhi who talks to us about his childhood connection to the land of Landour, Uttarakhand!Today's destination: Landour, UttarakhandNearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED)Nearest Railway Station: DehradunPrerequisites -  NAPacking -  Lots of books! Carry warm clothes as the hill stations are quite chill.Time of the year -  AprilLength of the itinerary:  3 daysItinerary Highlights:- Aakash talks about his childhood connection to Landour and the charm of this Raj era cantonment sharing some quick tips as to when one can travel.- He also shares titbits about his lodging, Rokeby Manor, a heritage property built in 1840 and one of the early constructions in Landour.- Some more trivia about the history of Landour, it's founders, it's legends and myths.- Aakash also shares stories about Pahadi Wilson, one of the famous residents of Landour and how his story inspired Rudyard Kipling to write the book, The man who became king.- Aakash talks about the famous points in Landour - the Char Dukaan, Sister's bazaar, Emily's kitchen, Landour Bakehouse among others. There are also heritage buildings like Kellog Church and St. Paul's church as well as a private sanctuary - The Jaberkhet wildlife sanctuary.- Finally we discuss about the legend and most famous celebrity of Landour - Ruskin Bond, his early life in Landour, his cottage and the influence of Landour on his works.- We wrap up the episode calling out other famous celebrity connections to Landour!Correction: The author of "The Man who would be King" is Rudyard Kipling and not Ruskin Bond as mentioned in this episode.Links:Link to Aakash's blogpost:https://handofcolors.me/2018/04/01/the-secret-miracles-of-landour/#more-2093https://handofcolors.me/2018/04/17/rokeby-manor-a-colonial-charm/Link to the blog: https://handofcolors.meFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/handofcolors/Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakashmehrotra?lang=enFollow The Musafir Stories onTwitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#manipur #northeast #offbeat #solotravel #markets #food #history #war #bordertowns #nature #lakes #nationalparks #warmemorial #ina #moreh #loktak #imakeithel Contest Alert!!!----------------We're giving away a copy of Rajat Ubhaykar's book - Truck De India, a hitchhiker's guide to Hindustan, to one lucky listener!All you have to do is listen to Rajat's episode - Around India on trucks (https://audioboom.com/posts/7258364-tms-specials-around-india-on-trucks-and-highways-with-rajat-ubhaykar) and answer two simple questions and send them to our email - themusafirstories@gmail.com before Nov 10, 2019.1. From which city did Rajat start his first leg of travel on trucks?2. Name any one driver with whom Rajat hitches a ride, who finds mention in the episode.Winners of #GetFeatured on The Musafir Stories!- Tarun- SangeethaCongrats!! We will reach out to you on very soon to schedule a recording session!This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to the Nomadic Thunker, Elita, as she takes us to a lesser explore gem of North East India, Manipur!Today's destination: ManipurNearest Airport: Bir Tikendrajit International Airport (IMF)Nearest Railway Station: Dimapur Railway StationPrerequisites -  Government issued Photo ID will be required at checkposts. Please be sure to check the ground situation before planning your travel as there might be closures.Packing - Pack some warm clothes if you're traveling during the winter months.Time of the year - JanuaryLength of the itinerary: 4 daysItinerary Highlights:- Elita covers Manipur as a part of her 49 day North east itinerary. Please be sure to check the ground situation before planning your travel.- Elita starts off her journey from Imphal where she flies into. It can be quite economical to hail a shared taxi from the airport to the city.- The first point of interest after settling down in Imphal is the Ima Keithel Women's Market, one of the biggest women-run market in the world! The market is a must see while in Imphal and is a great opportunity to pick up some local souvenirs.- Having spent some time interacting with women traders and getting a first hand experience of their warmth and hospitality, Elita heads back to the rest for the day.- The plan for Day 2 is to travel to the border town of Moreh, which borders Myanmar's Tamu. The town is the eastern most frontier of India, opening up to the South East Asian market.- The journey involved taking a shared taxi to Moreh, and some interesting experiences passing through army checkposts. The market is a minor trading hub for nearby villages and a lot of traders sell their produce here. One can walk about to the sister town of Tamu in Myanmar with the necessary ID documents.- Elita spends some time interacting with the local traders and buying some edibles. Once spending some time here, Elita heads back to Imphal in the same shared cab.- The Day 3 itinerary is planned for a visit to the Loktak lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and is famous for the phumdis/vegetation floating over it. The lake is located at Moirang in Manipur state, India.- The lake is also the location of the Keibul Lamjao National Park, famous for the Sangai deer or the brown antlered deer, found here in large numbers.- After spending some time watching the natural marvel of the Loktak lake, Elita heads to the INA martyr memorial. The INA Martyr's Memorial complex is a war memorial at Moirang, India, dedicated to the soldiers of the Indian National Army and some haunting stories of the freedom struggle and World War 2.- Day 4 was a reserve day which Elita uses to check out the war memorial in Imphal. Travleres can also check out the Kangla fort/palace, Thalon Caves, Govindajee temple, RKCS art gallery if they have time on hand!Links:Link to the blogpost-https://nomadicthunker.com/2017/04/micro-stories-of-hope-manipur-loktak-khwairamband-bazar.htmlhttps://nomadicthunker.com/2017/04/indo-myanmar-border-photos-friendship-gate.htmlhttps://nomadicthunker.com/2017/04/khwairamband-bazar-imphal-women-market-manipur.htmlLink to the blog: Nomadic Thunker (https://nomadicthunker.com)Link to #BeYouForYou expressive writing workshopshttps://nomadicthunker.com/be-you-for-youSocial media: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nomadicthunker/?hl=enContact: https://nomadicthunker.com/contactImage Credit: Thank you Grasskode! http://grasskode.xyz/Follow the Musafir stories onTwitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#Jaipur #Rajasthan #city #walkingtour #markets #bazaars #streets #forts #gates #palace #jewellery #foods #handicrafts #shoes #temples #hawamahal #joharibazaar #citypalace#GetFeatured on the Musafir Stories! Capping off International Podcast Day by inviting all listeners to our annual contest #GetFeatured on The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast.  The process is very simple, just reach us on our email themusafirstories@gmail.com with a. An #Indian destination or experience you would like to talk about (preferably not already covered on the podcast)b. A #summary of your experience/highlightsc. Links to blogs/posts about your experience (optional) The winner will be announced at the end of October! Please share with anyone who might be interested!!#InternationalPodcastDay #India #travel #podcast This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Arvind from the blog Jaipur thru my lens, an expert on Jaipur and its gems!Today's destination: A walking tour around the Walled city of Jaipur!Nearest Airport: Jaipur International Airport, JAINearest Railway Station: Jaipur Junction railway station, JPPrerequisites - Walking shoes, sun glasses, sun screen, energy bars and water to keep you hydrated!Packing -  Pack light, perhaps a backpack while you head out on this walking tour!Time of the year -  December to February is a good time to walk around the city as summers can be hottt!Length of the itinerary: 2 - 2.5 hoursItinerary Highlights:- Are talks about the benefits of self-guided walks vs group walking tours and what makes sense.- We start off the self guided tour of walled city of Jaipur, starting from New gate or Naya gate, the newest of the 9 gates in Jaipur. - Walking through the New gate, the first stop is at Bapu Bazaar, famous for fabric, women's shoes or mojaris/jootis, bed linen, clothes and handicrafts.-  The next gate we pass through is the Sanganeri Gate en-route to Johari Bazaar - one of the oldest and most popular markets of Jaipur.- Johari bazaar is popular for its jewellery - gold, silver, stones and all kinds of handicrafts. The Johari bazaar also has some buildings that have retained the old architecture that is unique to Rajasthan and Jaipur.- Are also talks about the other famous by-lanes of Johari bazaar like Haldion ka raasta, Ghee-walon ka raasta, Moti singh Bhamiyon ka raasta among others as well as a flavour of the local sweets - Ghevar and Fini!- Close to Johari Bazaar is Badi Chauper, a large square that is also very close to Hawa Mahal - another iconic monument of Jaipur.- Other places of interest near Badi Chauper is the Flower market that can be quite interesting for foreign travellers.- The next point of interest is the Hawa Mahal, one of the more popular palaces of Jaipur. The facade is brilliant but hidden behind is a whole complex, that is filled with stories and Rajas and Ranis.- Other points one passes by after walking around Hawa Mahal includes an old administrative building, Sirehdyodi bazaar, which leads to the Sirehdyodi Gate.- Another gate in the vicinity is the Nakkarkhana gate, an internal gate used for protection.- Jaleb chowk is another square where armies used to gather, but this is mostly empty now.- As one passes through Jaleb chowk, one can either head towards the City palace or Govind Devji temple, one of the very popular and older temples of Jaipur.- The walk can either end at this point, or trailers can choose to visit some of the more popular monuments like City Palace or Jantar Mantar depending on time and interest.Links:Link to the blogpost: https://jaipurthrumylens.com/2019/06/20/self-guided-jaipur-heritage-walking-tour/Ghevar: https://jaipurthrumylens.com/2018/09/03/ghevar-in-jaipur-rajasthani-sweet/Link to the blog: Jaipur Thru my lens (https://jaipurthrumylens.com)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jaipurthrumylens/Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvjprInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arv_jpr/?hl=enPhoto credits Mitchell Ng Liang an from UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories onTwitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#Dhanushkodi #Tamilnadu #southindia #ghost #town #tragedy #deluge #cyclone #stories #ruins #novel #fishermen #history #srilanka #talaimannar #rameshwaram International Podcast Day Convention 2019 in Bangalore: Join us!!! Register now: https://podcasts.hubhopper.com/o2podcollective-international-podcast-day*************************************************************************This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sudharsan SN, a polyglot and a linguist who runs a youtube channel called Indic Living (https://www.youtube.com/user/sudharsansn)Today's destination: Dhanushkodi - the story of a ghost town!Nearest Airport: Madurai, TNNearest Railway Station: Rameshwaram, TNPrerequisites -  n/aPacking - light clothes, hat, sun screen and lots of water!Time of the year: Oct - Feb is the best time to visit as the temperatures soar during summerLength of the itinerary: 1 dayItinerary Highlights:- Sudharsan shares his experience visiting Dhanushkodi for the first time in 2002.- He draws out the history of Dhanushkodi leading up to the Rameshwaram cyclone of 1964- The lives of the fishermen before and after the cyclone- The ruins of Dhanushkodi, the railway station, the temple, the church- The inspiration for Sudharsan's book and the storylineLinks:Follow Sudharsan on Twitter : https://twitter.com/sudharsansnTime and a Cyclone Book : http://www.sudharsansn.com/cyclone/release.htmlLink to Sudharsan's youtube channel:https://www.youtube.com/user/sudharsansnPhoto by fahad pgd on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories onTwitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#Parvati #valley #Himachal #northindia #river #parvati #beas #mountains #nature #hillstations #roadtrip #familytravel #kidstravel #hiking #trekking #camping #cafes #markets #hippie #kasol #tosh #jari #malana #manikaran #kheerganga #pinparvati #himachali #villageThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Deenaz Raisinghani, a backpacking mom who has been traveling around the world with her little kiddo! Today's destination: Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh Nearest Airport: Bhuntar Airport or Chandigarh AirportNearest Railway Station: Pathankot Railway stationPrerequisites -  NAPacking -  Your usual winter gear along with other essentials for travelling with a kid. >Also make sure to take care of the baby's eating, sleeping and pooping schedules!! >Travel as light as possible. >Travel a baby carrier >Emergency medications for the family>Handy snacks for the journeyTime of the year -  June (Feb to Jun is a good time to travel)Length of the itinerary:  10 daysItinerary Highlights: - The trio of Deenaz, Arianna and the dad start from Ambala for this 10 day road trip. - Parvati Valley is situated in the state of Himachal Pradesh and covers the region where the river Parvati and Beas meet and pass along a bunch of villages like Jari, Tosh, Kasol, Malana, Manikaran amongst others. - The valley has some great views of the mountains and the forests and some hot springs too!. - The first stop is at a little town called Jari, in a homestay that is right by the river alongside a village called Baladi. Reaching the homestay involves a bit of a trek and crossing a bridge, but is definitely manageable. - Day trips from here to places like Tosh are a great option that offers great cafes and views of the mountains, but be prepared for the crowds!- Another option is day treks to close by villages like Baladi that have some wonderful treks and offer an opportunity to interact with the local Himachali people. - It's a good idea to get a buffer day if there are any sick days during the trip. - After spending a few days at Jari, and doing day trips, the family decides to experience camping near Kasol - Arianna's first camping trip!- More hiking expeditions this time trekking via Chalal and Katagla, and a trip to Kasol town. - There are other options like Kheerganga, Pin Parvati pass, Malana, Grahan Village and other multi-day treks that one can indulge in and enjoy the verdant valley!- Deenaz also shares little tidbits about interactions with the locals as well as a little adventure of getting the local brew of Himachal - the Lugdi!- Finally, Deenaz shares some quick tips about inculcating travel in kids at an early age, the challenges and how to overcome them! Listen on!  Links:Link to Deenaz's blog (https://backpackindianmama.com/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backpackingindianmama/ Instagram : backpacking_indian_mama (https://www.instagram.com/backpacking_indian_mama/)Footprints of the Shadows by Piyush Dewan : https://www.amazon.in/Footprints-Shadows-Part-I-ebook/dp/B07KNN49W6Photo by Harigovind Kaninghat on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories onTwitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:#Kashmir #lakes #greatlakes #trek #mountains #nature #valleys #friends #northindia #camping #bonfire #freshwater #glacier #snow #nundkul #gangbal #krishnasar #vishansar #sonmarg #srinagar #satsar #gadsar #zajbalThis week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Karan and Parul, the couple on a break from work traveling around India and the world!Today's destination: Kashmir Great Lakes trek!PS: Please be sure to check on the travel advisory before traveling to the region. Nearest Airport: Srinagar airport Nearest Railway Station: Udhampur railway station Prerequisites - Some level of fitness!Packing - Pack trekking shoes, sticks, ponchos, warm clothes and a day pack with necessary first aid, medication and snack! Please note that the there is a support team to take care of transportation of luggage while trekking. Time of the year -  July to September is a good time to visit. Length of the itinerary: 8-9 daysItinerary Highlights: The group start of the trek from Srinagar to Naranag village, where they explore old temple ruins before starting of the trek. Day 1: First stop at Butshree pass, for refuelling! The first day of trekking is quite steep and one of the more difficult days of the trek. The campsite is by the Nundkul lake below the glacier mountain - Harmukh. You will encounter a couple of army camps/check posts during the trek, government IDs are required to be produced. A beautiful evening spent under the stars, playing Maafia and enjoying the views and making new bonds!Day 2: Break day (already)! The group spends time exploring nearby lakes like Gangbal, a daring dip in ice cold water of Gangbal and more Maafia!Day 3: Rain Gods show up! The group sets off from Nundkul to Satsar Valley, passing the Zajbal pass enrolee! Some majestic views of the lakes Nundkul and Gangabal from Zajbal pass. The group finally reaches Satsar Valley - the valley of 7 lakes and enjoy a very special local cuisine!Day 4: The destination for Day 4 is Gadsar valley - lots of green meadows and a relatively easy day of trekking. The group decides to spend some time exploring lakes, watching the night sky and relaxing before heading off to Krishansar lake the next day. Day 5: Gadsar valley to the Krishansar and Vishansar camp with a brilliant views of the twin lakes from Gadsar Pass. Day 6: The group descends to the twin lakes of Krishansar and Vishansar, enjoy another dip in the lakes and more beautiful views of the night sky!Day 7: The final day of the trek as the group descends to Sonamarg with a bittersweet feeling! A week cut off from civilization, making bonds & forging friendships and enjoying nature's bounty, but at the same time, happy to be heading back to civilization! Links:Link to the blogpost: http://grasskode.xyz/post/travel/kashmir-great-lakes/Link to the blog: http://grasskode.xyzIG: @grasskode & @capturedbypaulinaFollow the Musafir stories onTwitter: @musafirstoriesFacebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcastwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast"website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to the trio from F5 Escapes.F5 Escapes is redefining how women travel in India, encouraging them to get out of their comfort zone and explore the world. They plan and organize travel tours for women to travel in groups and solo as well! Hand crafted itineraries to suit their needs. To know more about F5 Escapes checkout their social media pages:Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/F5Escapes/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/f5escapes/Twitter : https://twitter.com/F5EscapesYoutube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWGFUxtraAUnvxgmM7V_KEwWebsite : https://www.f5escapes.com/Photo credit by Guille Álvarez on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories onTwitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook : https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstoriesInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/website: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast"website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoAt the time of publishing this episode- Sindhu is taking a break as a lead from F5 Escapes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Dhiraj from the blog, Team G Square as he discusses his journey to some of the hidden gems of India. Today's destination: Orchha, Madhya Pradesh!!Nearest Airport: Gwalior Airport or Khajuraho Airport (HJR)Nearest Railway Station: Jhansi Railway station (about 18kms away)Prerequisites -  NAPacking -  Depending on the time of the year you visit, make sure to carry hats, eyewear and sunscreen. Best time to visit is between November and February as the plains get very hot after that. Time of the year -  JanuaryLength of the itinerary: 3 daysItinerary Highlights: - Dhiraj and his 'team' cover Orchha as a part of a bigger MP road trip that lasted about 10 days. - The Orchha itinerary can be broken down into 3 areas - the palaces, the temples and the Chattris with the Vulture sanctuary. - Orchha is the home of the Bundela Rajas in the 16th century, who were originally based in the Varanasi region, until the invasions by the Delhi Sultanate began after which they moved to MP. - The town is home to a number of palaces of different architecture shapes and sizes. Notable among the palaces are the Raja Mahal built in 1538 which is one of the biggest and most beautiful of the palaces. The palace has innumerable jharokas and chattris that amplify the beauty of the palace. - Next on the list is the Jehangir Mahal, also a very beautiful palace that has shades of Mughal/Indo-islamic architecture that makes it stand out. Legend has that this palace was built for the visit of Emperor Jehangir, son of Akbar, who visited here just for a night!- Another unique palace that is high on the list of must see palaces is the Sheesh Mahal, which is now a boutique hotel and was one of the palaces built during the fag end of the rule of Bundela Kings. - An interesting and smaller palace is the Rai Parveen Mahal, believed to have been built for the Rai Parveen, a courtesan in the court of King Indrajit Singh. The legend goes that she was so beautiful and talented that even Emperor Akbar was blown away by her beauty and wanted to have her as a part of his entourage of courtesans. However, she did not budge and chose to stay with the Bundela King and was eventually moved to this palace. - Other smaller structures/palaces also adorn the town, although they have not been very well maintained. Notable among them are Dasiyon ka mahal, Dauji ki Kothi, Himma Hamir ki Kothi, ShamDua ki Kothi, Rasaldar ki Kothi etc. - Moving on from the palaces, one cannot overlook the umpteen number of temples and their marvellous beauty that Orchha has to offer. One of the first temples to catch your attention is Chatturbhuj temple that is one of the grandest temples of Orchha. - Legend has it that the Chaturbhuj temple was built by King Madhukar Shah for Lord Rama, but the Lord instead chose to stay at the Raja Ram temple, which was previously the Rani Mahal. - The story behind the Raja Ram temple is that when Rani Ganesh Kunwari performed penance to invite Lord Rama, he was impressed by her devotion and agreed to accompany her only if he is to be the King of the first place they stop at, which ends up being the Rani Mahal. The Lord also puts a condition that he will remain the only king of the place and hence he is worshipped as King in this region. - Other temples that are notable are the Shiva temple, Vanavasi Ram Mandir, Radhika Vihari temple, Panchamukhi temple and Lakshmi temple. All in all, Orchha provides a great treat for lovers of architecture and temples. - On the last leg of the journey, one can stop by the iconic Cenotaphs or Chattris of Orchha that are situated on the banks of the river Betwa. - The 14 Chattris were built as a homage for the Bundela kings and were constructed between the 17th and 18th century. Being situated on the banks of the river just amplifies the beauty of the cenotaphs. - As an icing on the cake, the region is also home to some endangered species of vulture and houses a Vulture Sanctuary. One can spend hours admiring the beauty fo the history and architecture, the beautiful sunset and eerie vultures or Orchha! All in all, a great trip uncovering some hidden gems of India! Links:Link to the blogpost: Chattris of OrrchaPalaces of OrchhaTemples of OrchhaVultures of OrchhaPaintings of OrchhaLink to the blog- TeamGSquareFollow the TeamGSquare on:FacebookTwitterIGFollow the Musafir stories onTwitterFacebookInstagramwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast"website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Charles Worringham, an Australian academic and clean energy evangelist, who shares his experience of traveling with a purpose. Listen on!Today's destination: Around India, exploring some of her energy challenges and innovative solutions!Nearest Airport: Indira Gandhi International airportNearest Railway Station: NAPrerequisites - Be open to travel, be open to learning!Packing - NATime of the year - NovemberLength of the itinerary: 1 monthItinerary Highlights: - Charles tells us about the objective of the trip and how one can look for a purpose in travel, be it history, culture, adventure or just learning about something you love!- More about the planning and preparations, the books Charles read up before the big trip: India calling - Anand Giridhardas (https://www.amazon.in/India-Calling-Intimate-Portrait-Remaking/dp/1250001722)Looking away - Harsh Mander (https://www.amazon.in/Looking-Away-Inequality-Prejudice-Indifference/dp/9385288458)Inspite of the Gods, the strange rise of modern India - Edward Luce (https://www.amazon.in/Spite-Gods-Strange-Modern-India/dp/0349123462)The City of Djinns - William Dalrymple (https://www.amazon.in/City-Djinns-Delhi-William-Dalrymple/dp/9385936557) - The trip begins in Delhi where Charles meets some interesting personalities, experiences the local Delhi food, the Delhi metro and as luck would have it, the phenomenon called 'demonetization'!! - Charles also makes an impromptu visit to Unnao, UP to see an interesting energy project- Ahmedabad was next on the itinerary, even though Charles gets a stomach bug, but he still manages to do some sight seeing through a heritage walk around the old city and a visit to the Sabaramati Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi!- Following this, Charles makes his way to Mumbai where he meets more interesting people, experiences the Mumbai local and a visit to IIT Mumbai! - Charles then stops by in Pune, where he sees some first hand innovative ways in which energy efficiency was being achieved at the grassroots.  - Hyderabad is next on the itinerary where Charles meets an energy efficiency expert and learns more about commercial building standards. Stops at IIIT Hyderabad and Golkonda fort were also part of the trip although he misses out on the Hyderabadi biryani!- As he descends further south, Charles visits Bangalore to meet some very interesting people at IISC and discovers a local Australian connection in a very innovative startup in Bangalore. - The trip slowly begins to wrap up with a final stop at Kochi, where Charles engages in some touristy things as he discovers the wonderful history of Fort Kochi and the surrounding areas! Notable mentions in the episode:Debi Goenka (https://twitter.com/mangrovesindia?lang=en)Himanshu Thakkar (https://www.indiawaterportal.org/author/himanshu-thakkar)Brookings India, Delhi (https://www.brookings.edu/center/brookings-india/)Simran grover - boond energy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/simran-grover-238b8918/?originalSubdomain=in)IIT mumbai Rangan Banerjee - (http://www.ese.iitb.ac.in/faculty/rangan-banerjee)Rajkiran Rilolikar (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajkiranbilolikar/?originalSubdomain=in)Harish Hande - Selco foundation (https://www.selcofoundation.org/selco_team/harish-hande/)TV Ramachandran IISC (http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/new/?q=user/31)Pollinate energy (https://pollinateenergy.org)Links: Link to the Charles' blog (https://indiapowerreview.com/)Follow the Musafir stories onTwitterFacebook Instagramwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comCover Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplashitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast"website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Divyam Goenka, a young trekking enthusiast and founder of Kyuriosity, a Bangalore based trekking community. Today's destination: Savanadurga Trek!!Nearest Airport: Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore (BLR)Nearest Railway Station: Bangalore Railway station Prerequisites - Some trekking experience doesn't hurt! Packing - Make sure to carry enough water to stay hydrated and some energy bars for when the going gets tough!Time of the year - November to February is a good time to do this trekLength of the itinerary: 1 dayItinerary Highlights: - Divyam and his friend hit the road after an impromptu plan to do the trek. The hill is situated about 70 kms from Bangalore and is well connected by roads. - The Savanadurga peak is over 1200 m high and is Asia's biggest monolith rock! - The best option would be to start early in the day so that you can hit the peak around sunrise. The official timings of the trek are sunrise to sunset. - Make sure to stock yourself before hitting the trek as it can be tiring if you get dehydrated. There are a couple of options at the foot of the hill that offer very good food. - Make sure to follow the trail markers or the lamp posts all the way to the summit, and avoid getting lost (although you have to try really hard for that!)- You will encounter fort walls along the trek at a few places, these are the remnants of the fort built by Kempegowda, the founder of Bangalore and later used by other rulers like Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. - The trek is medium level of difficulty, unless there is rain, or you choose to do it on a hot day. - Make sure to start early so that you can catch the sunrise and a view of the nearby Manchabele dam and Arkavati river! - The views from the summit are quite beautiful and well worth the climb, make sure to catch visit the Nandi statue at the summit! - Once you spend time at the summit, you can head back down and have a wholesome meal at the little shack at the base of the hill. - If you have more time on hand, you can indulge in activities like kayaking near the dam! - All in all, a great day trek, to a place that has a lot of historical and geographicalsignificance! Links:Link to the Kyuriosity: InstagramFacebookOther links:https://www.karnataka.com/bangalore/savandurga-fort/IG: @kyuriosityofficialFollow the Musafir stories onTwitterFacebookInstagramwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comitunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast"website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVipocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Rajat Ubhaykar, a journalist from Mumbai who talks about his journey around India on trucks and highways! Today's destination: India! Nearest Airport: n/a Nearest Railway Station: n/a Prerequisites - n/a Packing - n/a Time of the year - April Length of the itinerary: n/a Itinerary Highlights: Rajat talks about his roller coaster of a journey traversing India on trucks as he set out to document the lives of truckers and the highway economy of India. Rajat's journey was covered in 2 legs, first leg was Mumbai-Srinagar-NE, the second leg covered the eastern and western coastlines of India. Rajat talks at length about the lives of the truckers, the kind of stereotyping they are subject to, the reality of life on a highway, and how things evolved over the 2 years of his journey. Rajat's travelogue about his journey is set to hit the book stands later this year, make sure to check it out! Links: Links to blog post https://roadsandkingdoms.com/2017/truckin-on-in-india/ On building of truck bodies in Sirhind, Punjab - https://www.outlookbusiness.com/enterprise/trend/life-in-the-slow-lane-1826 On hitchhiking with nomads from Jammu to Srinagar - https://www.outlookbusiness.com/enterprise/trend/a-season-of-exodus-1889 Two pieces on trucking on NH39, India's most unsafe highway that passes through Nagaland & Manipur - https://www.outlookbusiness.com/enterprise/trend/when-not-just-goods-but-fear-too-piles-1976 https://www.outlookbusiness.com/enterprise/trend/a-convenient-arrangement-2084 On overloading and corruption on the highways - https://www.outlookbusiness.com/enterprise/trend/death-on-wheels-2197 More about the Guest: Twitter: @rajatub Photo by Harsh Fuloria on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Subhadip Mukherjee from the blog Indian Vagabond Today's destination: Mysore or Mysuru! Nearest Airport: Mysore Airport (MYQ)   Nearest Railway Station: Mysore Junction (MYS) Prerequisites - Book early if you plan on traveling during the festive season of Dussehra (usually around Oct) Packing - Pack light, make sure to carry appropriate clothing as it tends to get hot during summers Time of the year - NA Length of the itinerary: 2 days Itinerary Highlights: Subhadip takes us on a speed date with the royal city of Mysore or Mysuru, the home of the Wodeyars! We start the day by making an early sprint to the Mysore Zoo, one of the older zoos of India and is home to a variety of animals. Plastic bags are not allowed inside the premises, so plan accordingly. The Mysore Zoo used to be home to penguins in the 1980s! Yep, it's true! After the zoo, we head towards the St. Philominas church, built in 1936. Don't miss out the relics of St. Philomina inside the church premises. Next stop to the railway museum to get first hand expereince of the cabs and wagons of the Mysore railway network that dates back to the British era. Jaganmohan palace and art gallery is a treasure trove for the art lovers. Noteworthy are the paintings of the famous painter Ravi Varma in this art gallery. You can spend some time at the Karanji lake, enjoying the nature and a serene boat ride! After savouring some art and nature, it is time to head to the Chamundi Hills that houses the famous Chamundeshwari temple and the statue of Mahishasura, from whom the city of Mysore gets it's name. Do stop for some fine viewpoints of Lalith Mahal palace enroute the Chamundi hills. Our first evening is a great time to head to the Mysore Palace (Amba Vilas palace), the iconic palace that symbolizes Mysore. Get a view of beautiful Indo-sarcenic architecture and interiors including arches, Darbar-e-aam, Darbar-e-khaas and ofcourse the beautiful lighting during weekends and Dussehra. One can also shop for sandalwood artifacts and momentos as well as mysore silk sarees in the vicinity of the Palace. If you want to explore the palace further, you can also visit the 12 temples within the Palace complex. Lalith Mahal is another one of the popular palaces in Mysore which is now a heritage hotel, but be prepared to pay for luxury! Another popular destination that one can spend an evening at is the Brindavan Gardens and KRS dam. The musical fountains and the variety of flowers and gardens are the mainstay of the garden. Make sure to catch a good spot to view the musical fountain show during the evenings. One can also enjoy a boat ride by the KRS dam, but this can be quite crowded during weekends. Other places of interest include Srirangapatna (which deserves an itinerary of its own), Ranganthittu bird sanctuary, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav sanghralaya, National museum of Natural history, Folklore museum, Kukkarahalli lake among others! And last but not the least, do not forget to binge on some mouth watering Mysore Masala Dosa and Mysore Pak, the iconic dishes of Mysore! Links: Link to the blogpost Link to the blog: https://indianvagabond.com/ Thanks to Ashim D’Silva from Unsplash for this beautiful picture! Facebook Twitter Instagram Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to  Medhavi Gandhi, the founder of Heritage Lab (heritagelab.in), a unique media platform for citizens to interact with museums!   Today's destination: The Indian Himalayas in paintings by Nicholas Roerich!  Nearest Airport: NA  Nearest Railway Station: NA  Length of the itinerary: 5-8 years, 25,000 kms  Itinerary Highlights:   -  Medhavi takes us on the Himalayan expedition covered by Nicholas Roerich and his family in the early 20th century (1923) in search of the mythical kingdom of Shambala, that is believed to be home to the King who will bring peace and harmony to humanity.   Roerich's expedition started from Sikkim through Punjab, Kashmir, Ladakh, the Karakoram Mountains, Khotan, Kashgar, Qara Shar, Urumchi, Irtysh, the Altai Mountains, the Oyrot region of Mongolia, the Central Gobi, Kansu, Tsaidam, and Tibet" with a detour through Siberia to Moscow in 1926.   The journey was done on horses and mules, with minimal resources and it is during this expedition that Roerich painted more than 500 marvellous paintings of the himalayan landscapes, architecture and people.   Roerich also uses very novel ways to paint, using crushed rocks minerals in his paintings to give them a unique finish.   The expedition wasn't witout controversy - Roerich was often accused of being on a spy mission and was also detained in Tibet for over 5 months in very harsh climatic conditions.   After the expedition, Roerich settles down in Naggar, Kullu in Himachal Pradesh - it is now converted into a house museum and run by the Naggar trust and still houses a lot of his important paintings.   Other important paintings of Roerich can be found in the Nicholas Roerich Museum, New York.   A huge collection of his paintings is also available in National Gallery of Modern Art, Allahabad Museum, International Roerich Trust, Naggar - Himachal Pradesh, Government Museum and Art gallery, Chandigarh, Shri Jaganmohan palace, Mysore,  Chitrakala parishad, Bangalore.   Some of his paintings that were passed on to his son, have been the subject of a legal tussle for his estate that has gone of for the longest time, with paintings worth several lakhs reportedly stolen and sold abroad.   Over his lifetime Roerich made over 7000 paintings, but his Himalayan paintings and the mystery of the expedition live one!  Some notable paintings from Roerich's Himalayan expedition detailed in Medhavi's blog  A view of Kanchenjunga from Sikkim (Tashi view point)  A view of Kanchenjunga from Darjeeling (Tiger hill)  Tashiding Monastery, Sikkim (Bhumchu festival/Banners of the east)  Mt Kailash (tibet)  Kinner Kailash (HP, 28 colors of the ranges)  Lahual (Himachal), Rohtang Pass;   Buddhist MOnks, Sissu waterfalls  Ladakh - shooting star in Changthang plateau  Buddhist sculptures on boulders (Zanskar range)  Maitreyi Buddha, near Mulbek monastery  lamayaru Monastery, Leh (Yuru Kabgyata festival, masked dance)  Lake sheshnag, Kashmir (enroute amarnath yatra, Shiva's serpent)  Naggar, Kullu  Links:  Link to Medhavi's website: http://www.theheritagelab.in/ Link to the blog post: http://www.theheritagelab.in/himalayas-paintings-roerich/ Twitter: @medhavigandhi @theheritagelab Instagram: @theheritagelab Facebook: @heritagelab Image Credit : The Heritage Lab, Painting at Nicholas Roerich Museum, New York  Follow the Musafir stories on  Twitter Facebook Instagram website: www.themusafirstories.com  email: themusafirstories@gmail.com  itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3  Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast"  website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV   Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi  pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg  castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi  Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf  Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw  audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS  TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a  RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0   iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R  Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to MSN Karthik - a traveller, a film maker and a youtuber!   Today's destination: Bodhgaya, Bihar!  Nearest Airport: Gaya Airport or Patna Airport  Nearest Railway Station: Gaya Junction  Prerequisites - Just leave your worries home!  Packing - Nothing unusual!  Time of the year - Best to travel when the festive season is upon us, important festivals being Buddha Poornima (May) or Kalchakra puja (Oct-Nov) or other world healing pujas (watch for them in the calendar)  Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days   Itinerary Highlights:   Karthik begins the journey by explaining the significance of Bodhgaya, the home of Buddhism. Here is where Prince Siddhartha found enlightenment after traveling all the way from Lumbini, present day Nepal.   Karthik enlightens us about the Bodhi vriksha or Bodhi tree, it's history and importance. We talk more about the timeline of the Mahabodhi temple - one of the most important structures in Bodhgaya which is over 2000 years old, how it was patronized by Ashoka, plundered by foreign invaders, left in ruins and finally discovered again in the 19th century.   The temple is a beautiful structure, that lies in a sprawling complex with over a thousand stupas, a number of other temples and statues of the Buddha. There is a 80 ft statue that was contributed by the Japanese government that signifies 80 years of Buddha's life.   Karthik also speaks about the teachings of Buddhism, the interactions with monks who have travelled from all around the world and how their views converge.   Karthik talks about the other temples and monasteries built by representatives of different countries and the kaalachakra maidan, a huge field that is the venue of all congregations including while his holiness Dalai Lama is visiting.   Karthik further talks about his experience with Vipasana, its importance and what the retreat involves.   Links:  Link to the youtube documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xA42Eu6Fds&t=0  Link to the channel Adwhyta: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU7XVC0jMY1tGEUf6m3lC0w  Linik to Vipasana meditation centers: www.dhamma.org twitter: @MSNKarthik  instagram: @MSNKarthik  facebook: @adwhyta  Photo by Mattia Faloretti on Unsplash  Follow the Musafir stories on  Twitter Facebook Instagram Website email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes-  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3  Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast"  website- http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV   Saavn- https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi  Spotify- https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi  pocketcasts- https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg  castbox- https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi  Overcast- https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf  Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw  audioBoom- https://bit.ly/2oZZowS  TuneIn- https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a  RadioPublic- https://bit.ly/2snY9u0   iHeartradio- https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R  Deezer- https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Meenakshi Param from the blog polkajunction.com. Sit back and enjoy as we speak to the multi-talented Meenakshi as she speaks about her tryst with travel!  Today's destination: Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh  Nearest Airport: Dharamshala, HP  Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot, Punjab  Prerequisites - N/A  Packing - Warm clothes depending on the season of travel  Time of the year - All year round!  Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days  Itinerary Highlights:   Meenakshi begins the conversation by setting up the orientation of Dalhousie, the necessity of acclimatization given Dalhousie is between 6-9K ft above sea level and the history of the colonial influence on Dalhousie!  Dalhousie is named after Lord Dalhousie, the Governor general of Bengal during the British Rule and was set up as a sanitorium to help ailing soldiers recover, given it's wonderful setting. It was purchased from the Raja of Chammba for a princely sum of 12,000 Rupees over 150 years ago  Meenakshi gives us some titbits about the Thandi (cold) and Garam (hot) sadak, why they are called so and some of the nearby churches (St. John's church and St. Francis church) that one can visit while spending time acclimatizing with the city.   One can also visit the nearby markets of Subhash chowk and Gandhi chowk as well as some Tibetan markets to get a flavor of the local stuff.   Visitors to Dalhousie can also enjoy a great mix of architecture right from Himachali architecture which dominates most of the nearby hamlets to the colonial buildings in the city as well as the more recent contemporary architecture.   The people in Dalhousie is a mix of HImachali, Tibetan, Buddhists, Punjabi and Bengali people. We also discuss about the Bengal connection of Dalhousie with prominent personalities like Subhash Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore having lived here during their lives.   We also discuss the points of interest in the vicinity including Khajjiar and some treks one can indulge in including Dayankund, CHamba, Bakrota hill and Aala! Listen to the local folklore about the Dainkund legends and get spooky!   The local flavors of Dalhousie include everything from fast-food to Momos, chaats, golgappas, himachali food and Rasgollas.   Make sure to grab exotic souvenirs from Dalhousie such as Himachali Chukk (pickle), wines and chutneys. Finally, make sure to carry an umbrella while going about Dalhousie!   Links:  Meenakshi's Blog Blogposts:   Dalhousie's Snowfall - White carpet  Dalhousie : Enchantment Dalhousie : Folklore - Conquering Witches! Dalhousie's Bengal connection   Find Meenakshi on Twitter Like her work on Facebook Follow her on Instagram ========================================================================  Winners of the 2nd Anniversary episode - TMS Specials: The Shooting Star!! Abhinav Kaushik  Megha Deora  Rohan Shetty  Thank you and Congratulations guys! ========================================================================  Follow the Musafir stories on  Twitter: @musafirstories  Facebook: @themusafirstories   Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast  Website email: themusafirstories@gmail.com  itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3  Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast"  website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV   Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi  pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg  castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi  Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf  Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw  audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS  TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a  RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0   iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R  Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CONTEST ALERT!!!  Listen to the episode and answer these 3 simple questions and stand a chance to win a copy of Shivya's best seller - The Shooting Star  1. Which Indian town did Shivya spend her childhood in?  2. In which country did Shivya go to university?  3. What is the title of Shivya's best selling book?   Email your responses to themusafirstories@gmail.com before March 7th 2019! The winners will be announced on the next episode of the podcast!  This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to none other than the Shooting Star - Shivya Nath, top travel blogger and now author with her national best seller, The Shooting Star!  Interview Highlights:   Shivya talks about her time growing up in India, where she spent her childhood in and what were her erstwhile ambitions  We talk to Shivya about her journey away from home for university, how that shaped her choices as a person and how eventually she succumbed to her 'calling'   Shivya also talks about tryst with a 9-5 job, how she constantly craved for freedom and how eventually she quit her job to move back to India  We talk about Shivya's tryst with entrepreneurship, the highs and the lows and some difficult decisions  We also discuss about Shivya's travel philosophy, her roots and the place she calls home, being a digital nomad and giving up her home  We finish the interview by talking about her choices, how she chose veganism, the percpetions and the reality of being a vegan traveler and some final thoughts to finish off the interview.    Links:  Instagram: @shivya  Twitter: @shivya  Facebook: @theshootingstarblog  Blog: https://the-shooting-star.com/  Buy your copy of the Shooting Star on   Amazon India Kindle Follow the Musafir stories on  Twitter: @musafirstories  Facebook: @themusafirstories   Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast  website: www.themusafirstories.com  email: themusafirstories@gmail.com  itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3  Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast"  website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV   Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi  pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg  castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi  Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf  Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw  audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS  TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a  RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0   iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R  Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Srikanth from the blog traveldiaries.vacations and the capter lead of RTC Hyderabad! Today's destination: Gandikota gorge and Belum caves, Andhra Pradesh! Nearest Airport: Tirupati Airport at Renigunta Nearest Railway Station: Kondapuram Prerequisites - Camping equipment if you're planning to camp Packing - Gandikota can get hot during the day, plan to carry sufficient water and also extra layers for the night. Time of the year - September Length of the itinerary: 2 days Itinerary Highlights: Srikanth and team set out from Hyderabad towards Gandikota - a natural gorge formed by the Pennar river in Andhra Pradesh. A couple of stops enroute the destination and a navigation error on google maps led Srikanth to the foot of some magnificent wind mills in the vicinity of Gandikota! After spending some time refreshing themselves at the APSTDC branded Haritha resorts, the group heads towards the Gandikota fort by about 3pm. Please note that camping areas are present in the vicinity of the fort, so do not fall prey to scamsters asking for money to pitch tents. Once the group had settled in on the camping area, they set out to explore the fort and its monuments. First up is the Mini Charminar that welcomes you as you drive through the fort city after passing through the gigantic darwaaza or fort gates. The mini charminar is modeled after the original monument in Hyderabad The other important monuments within the fort include the Jama Masjid, the Ranghanatha Swamy temple and the Madhavaraya Swamy temple (from the Hoysala era). Along with the religious monuments, there are several other structures like the Granery, Mausoleum, Jail, Ponds and water bodies are abundant. Unfortunately we did not have enough time to discuss some of the smaller monuments due to time constraints. Once you have enjoyed the history and architecture of the monuments, move over to the view points for some great sunset views of the gorge and the river. Indulge in star gazing as night falls, enjoy a bonfire, a sumptous meal and spend the night chatting away with friends. Wake up early for wonderful views of the sunrise and the sun painting the gorge into different colors. The group head out towards Belum caves - the second longest underground cave network in India formed by a river several centuries ago, over 3 kms long! A beautiful Buddha statue welcomes you to the monument complex, it is believed that both Buddhist and Jain monks have lived here centuries ago. The cave network is about 150m below ground level and tends to get pretty hot during the day, even in September! The caves are well lit with a number of formations like Pilidwaram, saint bed, Dhyan mandir or meditation hall, Kotilingalu chamber (thousand hoods), Banyan tree, Patalaganga and many more interesting formations! Links: Link to Srikanth's blog Link to blog post Checkout Srikanth on Instagram! Follow him on Twitter. Link to Elita's 'Be you for you' expressive writing workshops Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Pradnya Kulkarni, a smart traveler who believes in traveling without quitting your job! Let's find out more! Prerequisites - A job! Just kidding! Highlights: Pradnya talks about the importance of travel in life and how one should approach travel. Her own trials and errors with travel Hacks to make use of to plan your travel How to save for sustainable travel How her job has helped her travel the world! Parting advice! Pradnya's social media: Twitter Instagram Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Priyanka Dalal from the blog MapRoute Travel Blog. Priyanka is a digital entrepreneur and traveler and on this episode she shares her experience of falling in love with the Kumbh Mela! Today's destination: The Kumbh Mela! Nearest Airport: Allahabad Airport, IXD Nearest Railway Station: Allahabad Junction Prerequisites - Be prepared to be a part of large crowds and lose your personal space! It is better to book accommodation beforehand, specially if you are going to be here on the days of the Shahi Snan! Packing - Pack light, and be ready to rough it out! Time of the year - Jan 15 - Mar 4, 2019 Length of the itinerary: NA Itinerary Highlights: Priyanka talks at length about her experiences from the previous Kumbh Mela at Trimabakeshwar, Nashik and Ujjain. History and legends of the Kumbh Mela what to expect at your maiden Kumbh Mela Important days of the Kumbh mela - the Shahi Snan days Activities during the Kumbh Mela - discourses, holy dips, temple visits, processions Interacting with people at the Kumbh Mela - From Naga babas to foreigners and devotees from around India Useful advise for solo travelers Links: Links to blog posts: Priyanka's Travelogue : My Kumbh Mela Story @ Trimbakeshwar, Nashik Priyanka's Travelogue : Ujjain Simhasth Solo at the Kumbh Mela Priyanka's podcast Photo by Jose Aragones on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram Website email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Meenakshi Arvind, an avid traveler, business woman and mom! Buckle up as Meenakshi takes us on this mother of all road trips, from Coimbatore, India to London, England! Today's destination: London! Nearest Airport: NA Nearest Railway Station: NA Prerequisites - permits, visas, carnet and loads of patience! Time of the year - March 2017 Length of the itinerary: 70 days, 24K kms!! Itinerary Highlights: Meenakshi starts off the preparation by mapping out the route and preparing the permits and visas well in advance. The plan is to drive through 24 countries, across continents, over 70 days and 24K kms to end in London as a mark of celebrating 70 years of Indian independence. Meenakshi shares her approach, preparation, planning and the run up to the big day. Stories of some mishaps, some surprises and loads of memorable moments. Driving into London with a range of emotions and memories for a lifetime Links: Find Meenakshi on Facebook Follow her on Instagram Coimbatore to London Road Trip Pictures  Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to a very dear guest - Ajitha Yasmin, a long time listener and winner of the "Get Featured on the Musafir Stories" contest we ran on International Podcast Day earlier this year. Today's destination: Chadar Trek on the frozen Zanskar river, Jammu & Kashmir Nearest Airport: Leh Airport, IXL Nearest Railway Station: NA Prerequisites - Some experience in trekking is preferred, although not mandatory Packing - Make sure to either pack winter clothes or buy them in Leh. Decathalon is a good option in your city as well. Equipment is usually taken care of by the trek company. Time of the year - January Length of the itinerary: 6 day trek, 2 day acclimatization Itinerary Highlights: The 12 people strong team, set off after a day of acclimatization in Leh with a stopover at Magnetic hill. The trek kicks off at Chiling from where the group heads off on a 70km trek over 6 days. The trek goes through some interesting terrain with different formations of ice over the Zanskar river. The early hours are tricky with the team having to negotiate some thin layers of ice. The first stop for the night is Shingra where the team camps. Periodic oxygen level checks are performed by the trek company to ensure that everyone is good health. The trek continues through some magnificent terrain, covering icy sheets to frozen streams. The stop of the day is at Tibb caves, a point of meeting of two mountain ranges. The team also enjoy some good vegetarian food along with Thukpa, the tibetan soupy noodles. The final day of the onward journey ends at Nerak waterfalls - a frozen waterfall that is one of the iconic points of the trek at over 11,000 ft. The return journey is along the same path but on th other side of the frozen river bank. The team enjoys interacting with the local porters and share some hummable songs and the evergreen calls of Julley! Links: Ajitha's Travel Listen to Saif & Faiza on Castbox's Original: Podcast Unfiltered with Bijay Gautam Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram Website email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Vishwas Raj, founder of the adventure travel company - Adventure Sindbad (www.adventuresindbad.com). Adventure Sindbad specializes in a variety of adventure activities across the Himalayas, right from hiking, cycling, whitewater rafting to family adventure tours. Sit back and enjoy as Vishwas takes us to Changthang, the land of the Pashmina! Today's destination: Changthang, Jammu & Kashmir Nearest Airport: Leh Airport Nearest Railway Station: Udhampur Railway station Prerequisites - Inner line permits may be required for a few areas. This is taken care of by Adventure Sindbad if you travel with them. Packing - Warm clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, good walking boots Time of the year - August Length of the itinerary: 10 days Itinerary Highlights: This experience is a part of a photography trip led by Adventure Sindbad. The trip begins with acclimitization in Leh for 2-3 days in order to get used to the high altitude. The guests get to go around and explore the old Leh city during the acclimatization process! The group then heads off towards the Changthang area, a highland plateau in Kashmir that extends to Tibet and covers about 1600 kms into Tibet. The first stop is close to the picturesque Tso Moriri lake, albeit at some distance from the touristy points around the lake. One gets to experience the beautiful colors of nature while camping close to Tso Moriri. The group then heads off towards the camping site close to the nomads of Changthang - the Changpas. The Changpas are a nomadic community that wanders across the Changthang area with their herd of sheep and goats. The famous pashmina wool is made from the wool of the sheep and goat of this region, which is then crafted by Kashmiri artisans and is very valuable. The adventure sindbad team does a recce of the area well in advance and establishes contact with the nomads in order to ensure the group isn't being intrusive. As a part of the photography trip, the patrons get to document the life of the Changpas and their nomadic lifestyle. The rebo or yak wool tents of the Changpas are the epitome of minimalism and simplicity. The tents contain a kitchen, a dining area, sleeping area and a prayer room. Once the group has made contact with the nomads and set up tent in the vicinity, the patrons get a chance to observe and document the lifestyle of the Changpas, considered a dying lifestyle with the younger generations prefering to move away. The Changpas usually own anywhere between 100-800 sheep and start the day early by milking the goats and sheep. Some of the family then heads off to graze the sheep, while one or two family members stay back and take care of the household chores. The group gets to experience the various aspects of nomads life and also get some exotic shots of the arid plateau. Links: Adventure Sindbad's Website Follow Adventure Sindbad on  Facebook Twitter Instagram TripAdvisor A big congratulation to the winner of our book give away - Somdeep Kundu! Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram Checkout our website Or you can email us: themusafirstories@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Musafir Stories we talk to novelist and media professional Tony V. Francis about his epic coming-of-age romantic novel 'The Autograph Seeker' which brings to life the whispering landmarks of Calcutta in the 1980 and 1990s. During the course of the interview Tony talks to us about the bestselling novel and different landmarks of Calcutta (now Kolkata) which play a significant role in this story. From the famous Park Street to Eden gardens, to the theatre play to all the autographs! this book has it all! The Autograph Seeker : During the colonial rule in India, fate throws together a diverse cast onto the San Souci Theatre stage – Esther Leech, the Kohinoor of Bengal theatre; James Barry, the theatre manager facing bankruptcy; Alice Anderson, the enchanting English woman estranged from her husband Thomas Anderson; and Baboo Bustomchurn Addy, the dark Bengali actor infatuated with Alice and ready to kill for her. Yet, history has forgotten this cast who perished with the San Souci Theatre until it’s discovered by a school boy in Calcutta desperate to tell their story. To help him is an effervescent Anglo Indian beauty. She’s mute. It was the end of innocence and the dawn of a glorious institution. Unearth the story of the greatest theatre in colonial India hidden for the last 150 years inside the pages of this epic school-age novel. You can get your hands on 'The Autograph Seeker' on Amazon ( https://www.amazon.in/Autograph-Seeker-Tony-V-Francis/dp/938150699X ) Flipkart( https://www.flipkart.com/autograph-seeker-original-complete/p/itmezgzzurmyj9uf ) or you can find it in any leading bookstore. Contest Alert!!! Stand a chance to win a copy of the book "The Autograph Seeker" by Tony V Francis by writing to us on our social media handles or email us at themusafirstories@gmail.com Photo by Martin Jernberg on UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Anuradha Goyal from www.Inditales.com. Anuradha is an accomplished travel blogger and a book reviewer with her blog "AnuReviews" as well as the author of the book "The Mouse Charmers - Pioneers of Digital India" Today's destination: Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh! PS - Happy Diwali wishes in advance! Nearest Airport: Gorakhpur Airport (GOP), Gorakhpur OR Amausi Airport (LKO), Lucknow Nearest Railway Station: Ayodhya Junction, AY Prerequisites - Better to carry your ID proof if you are planning to visit the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. It is not mandatory though. Packing - Pack light and according to the season you are travelling in. Make sure to carry a good pair of walking shoes! Time of the year - October Length of the itinerary: 6 days Itinerary Highlights: Anuradha starts off the conversation by giving a background about Ayodhya and its significance not only to Hinduism but to every religion that was born in India - Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. She adds about the various Kings and dynasties that ruled Ayodhya before Shri Ram. Anuradha also touches upon the significance of Diwali and its connection to Ayodhya as well as the major festivals celebrated here - Ram Navami (Mar-Apr), Diwali (Oct-Nov), Karthik Poornima (15 days after Diwali). Anuradha discusses the various temples across Ayodhya and the best way to explore them by doing one of the yatras - Panchkosi (5kms), Chudhakosi (45kms), Chowraseekosi (300kms) Some of the points of interest that Anuradha covers in the podcast are Temples: Ram Janmabhoomi, Kanak Bhavan, Badi Hanumangarhi, Valmiki Mandir Ghats on the river Sarayu: Naya ghat, Guptar Ghat, Jhunki Ghat, Raj ghat and others Others: Ayodhya Research Institute, International Ram Katha museum, Ram Leela performance at Ayodhya research Institute Culinary delights: Litti Chokha, Dahi Jalebi, Kachori, Samosas, Ram Daana, and ofcourse some delightful prasads from the temples Links: Link to Anuradha's blog: https://www.inditales.com/ Link to Blog Post : https://www.inditales.com/ayodhya-travel-guide-ram-ramayan/ Link to Anuradha's book review blog: www.anureviews.com Link to Anuradha's book: http://www.anuradhagoyal.com/the-mouse-charmers/ You can listen to the Writer and Geek Show at https://writerandgeek.com/ Social media: Facebook: @inditales Twitter: @anuradhagoyal Instagram: @inditales Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week at The Musafir Stories we have historian, teacher and artist Sujatha Balakrishnan walking us through Bengaluru Pete area. The founder of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda-I established the city in 1537, he started this city at the Pete Area. We explore and talk about different historical points from Hazrath Tawakkal Mastan Dargah to Dharmaraya Swamy Temple in the Pete. Sujatha tells us about how the Tawakkal Mastan Dargah was built and the festivals celebrated there. We then walk ahead to find the bygone Vijayalakshmi Theater and Mohan Building where once a Maratha King had his palace. Then we come across the Doddapete area where Kempe Gowda once established different temples, markets and towers and fortified Bengaluru considering the Doddapete as the center point of Bengaluru. Sujatha also discusses the different localities in the Pete area and how they got their names based on the commodity that was sold there and also based on the residents that lived there all the way from Balepet to Nagarathpet. We then come across Taramandalpet, a place where Tippu Sultan had his rocket R&D. Taramandalpet which means a Galaxy of Stars! Then our final stop is the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple which is dedicated to the Pandavas & Draupathi. We finally hear about a strong and secular bond between our first stop, i.e. the Dargah and the last stop, i.e. the Dharmaraya temple. Follow Sujatha Balakrishnan's Theater for Change here. Sujatha's IMDB page. Know more about Sujatha in The Passion People Podcast. Big thanks to Suhotra Roychoudhury for his pictures of Bengaluru Pete area and for our cover image. Checkout Suhotra's website Unseen Destinations and his Instagram page. A special give-away for listeners of the Musafir Stories, courtesy the wonderful folks at Castbox.fm. Now listeners can enjoy a free trial of Premium version of Castbox which comes with features like No ads, Personalized homepage, ability to turn off "Similar episodes" and more by using the special code MUSAFIR. Just log in to your CastBox account and select "Go Premium". Enjoy! Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf audioboom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy International Podcast Day! International Podcast Day is September 30th and it's an international celebration of the power of podcasts! #InternationalPodcastDay We are so glad to all the support and love that we have got from all our listeners so far, we have a very special episode for you guys where we discuss the journey of The Musafir Stories with our buddy Pod-casters Naga from the Passion People Podcast and Shankar & Vishnu from the Writer & Geek Podcast. You can lay your hands on 'The Autograph Seeker' here. Also the winner of the 'Get Featured on The Musafir Stories' contest is Ajitha Yasmin!!! Lastly but most importantly you can listen to some deep conversations with brilliant & passionate people on Naga's show 'The Passion People Podcast' and give a boost to your knowledge by listening to some enlightening episodes of Shankar & Vishnu on everything under the sun at the 'Writer & Geek Podcast'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Preethika and Narayanan, the couple behind the wonderful blog "Passing Ports". Listen in to the conversation as we talk Cholas, temples, history, architecture and more! Today's destination: Thanjavur or Tanjore, Tamil Nadu! Nearest Airport: Tiruchirapalli International Airport Nearest Railway Station: Thanjavur Junction Prerequisites - n/a Packing - Stay hydrated, comfortable clothing, some of the temples might require 'modest' clothing too! Time of the year - November Length of the itinerary: 4 days Itinerary Highlights: Preethika and Narayanan start off their journey with the Tanjore Royal Palace or Thanjavur Palace, a fort/palace complex with other monuments like the Bell tower, Art Gallery, Maratha Darbar, Arsenal tower, Library and more. Learn about the art of Veena making (Veena or Veenai is an ancient chordphone instrument that originated in India) and Bronze sculpting with the local craftsmen A visit to th living Chola temples, UNESCO world heritage sites reknown for their architechture and history 1. Brihadeeshwara temple or the Big temple 2. Airawateshwara temple in Darasuram 3. GangaiKonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur Links: Link to the blog: http://passingports.com/ Links to the blogpost: http://passingports.com/thanjavur-tourist-places/ http://passingports.com/ancient-temples-in-tamil-nadu/ http://passingports.com/svatma-heritage-hotel-thanjavur-review/ Links to social meadia: Twitter: @passingports Facebook: @passingports Instagram: @passingports Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Kaushal Karkhanis aka The Exotic Gringo. Sit back and listen to where this pro traveller and polyglot takes us to today! Today's destination: Riverside Goa! Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport (GOI), Goa Nearest Railway Station: Multiple options depending on your destination. Prerequisites - NA, but make sure to plan and book your stay ahead of time if traveling during the holiday season Packing - Nothing specific, but make sure to carry appropriate clothes depending on the weather Time of the year - November to March is ideal, but is also going to be busy! Length of the itinerary: Can be anything from 1 weekend to long term for slow travel Itinerary Highlights: Kaushal starts off by taking us to the river side of North Goa - starting at the Tirakhol river. Tirakhol river divides Maharashtra and Goa and is one of the lesser explored regions. Tirakhol Fort, which is now a hotel, is a beautiful place and the restaurant is open to public. Make sure to carry your camera along, specially right after the monsoons! Nearby regioins of Keri and Arambol are very popular for their beautiful beaches as well. Mandrem, Patnem and Morjim are some of the other beaches in the vicinity. Next up is the Chapora river, which is Kaushal's favorite for its tranquility and calm. It also has a number of rare bird species and other flora and fauna. The Siolim, Chapora and Vagator are some of the villages along the river. Historically, this was the river that demarcated Portuguese India from the rest of India. Goa only became a part of independent India only in 1961! Whaaat! Other places of interest are the Chapora fort of Dil CHahta hai fame! There is the fishing village of Chapora (The village gets it's name from Shahpura, its Mughal name from the past!). There are a number of jettys which you can take a boat ride on. A very offbeat destination, ideal for someone who is looking to get away from the crazy crowds of tourists. As one heads further south, one can spend time at the village of Colvale, a quaint fishing village, also famous for the Colvale beach. Make sure to lodge at Kaza Colvale while here. Getting around Goa is a breeze - one can take the local buses, the most budget way of traveling. Then there are the 'for hire' bikes which is ideal for solo travelers and couples and Bike pilots for someone looking for a cheap alternative to cabs. The government has also tied up to Ho-Ho Goa or hop-on hop-off Goa, for full day tours around Goa for a steal. The newest mode of transport that is going to be commercialized soon will be the ferry service that can fetch you directly from the airport! Woohooo! As we continue our journey further south, one can experience the beautiful mainland from the banks of rivers like Baga, Arpora, and Mapusa which have some beautiful flea markets on the banks. The backwaters of the river Mapusa have some beautiful and quaint villages of carona, Olaulim, Corjuem and Aldona, non-touristy and super tranquil - just the perfect place to do NOTHING, and relax! Next up on the course, is the river Mandovi - one of the bigger rivers of Goa along with the Zuari. Mandovi has a number of commercially active regions along its banks and is also close the the mainland that has the capital Panjim - just the place to get you a sample of Old Goa, with ample heritage walks, fontainhas - UNESCO declared world heritage walks. The other regions of note are Reis Magos, Ribandar, Old Goa as well as a handful of islands like Vanxim island, St. Estevam island (the smallest ferry crossing), Divar island (great bicycle trails) and Chorao island (famous for Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary) Also, FOOOD! The area around Panjim has some of the best places to eat. Check out Anand Ashram (for the fish thali, check out Chonak and Motso fish), Konkani canteen and DTR (for some great local food), Taj Aguada (for unlimited buffet!). And for dessert, make sure to check sweets like serradura (at Mr. Baker), Bibbingk (Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro), Dodol (Cafe Morango), Vonn (at Chef Peter's restaurant). Further south are the rivers of Zuari and Sal - areas in the vicinity like Lutolim (famous for old portuguese mansions by Zuari), Varca, Cavelossim, Assolna and Navelim (by Sal river). Further south are the Agonda and Palolem backwaters (which are more popular for the beaches by the same names). In the vicinity of the Palolem backwaters are hidden beaches like Butteryfly and HOneymoon! Talpona, Galgibag and Rajbag beaches and backwaters are further down south and have some marvellous 5 star properties for anyone interested. However, one should explore the riversides in this area for some great bicycle rides. The final reccommendation, that Kaushal is also planning to visit soon is the wonderful Cola beach lagoon (north of Agonda beach), accessible by foot, bicycles and bikes only! Before wrapping up, Kaushal also gives a big shout out to Jeevit Nadi (www.jeevitnadi.org) that makes organic products like shampoos, soaps and more as well as free recipes for a toxin-free lifestyle, that go a long way in preventing the pollution of rivers, which is a real problem that is staring at the ecology of the region. Make sure you support them and the environment. Kudos! Links: Nagaland Chief Minister's relief fund: A/C No. 10530527879 IFSC Code: SBIN0000214 State Bank of India, Kohima Branch OR https://cmrelieffund.nowpay.co.in/ OR https://paytm.com/helpinghand/cm-relief-fund-nagaland Kaushal's blog: http://exoticgringo.com/ http://www.goatrippers.com/ Twitter: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Facebook:@gowithgringo/ @goatripping Instagram: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Shubhangi Jeswal, a traveler and adventure seeker as she takes us with her to one of her most memorable journeys to the mountains! Today's destination: Completing the Basic Mountaineering course (BMC) at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling Nearest Airport: Bagdogra, Airport, West Bengal Nearest Railway Station: Siliguri Junction railway station, West Bengal Prerequisites - One needs to apply online and via mail to be accepted to the HMI. The pre-requisites also include a full body check up that an individual needs to pass in order to sign up for the BMC. Also, please note that there can be a waiting period of up to 1 year for admission, so please plan accordingly. Packing - One can pack the necessary winter wear while travelling to the HMI institute in Darjeeling. However, equipment and other gear required for mountaineering will be provided by the HMI. The fee (7-8K INR) covers all the equipment and training. Time of the year - April Length of the itinerary: 28 days (10 days training at the HMI, Darjeeling; 5 day trek to base camp; 10 days of mountaineering at the glacier; 2 days for the return trip and Graduation ceremony on the final day!) Itinerary Highlights: Shubhangi starts off her journey from Sikkim where she completed a pre-planned itinerary and reaches Darjeeling by a shared cab from Bagdogra! The initial 10 day training at HMI has a daily routine consisting of acclimatization, PT (physical training), yoga and a strict diet. At the end of the 10 day training, there is a medical check up again after which the participants are cleared to go ahead. The traing is split up into 3 areas of importance - Rock craft, snow craft and ice craft. Shubhangi advises one to prepare oneself better with yoga, breathing and some strength exercises to be able to carry upto 20kgs of equipment whie trekking. The Himalayan Mountaineering institute is one of the first mountaineering institute and it was inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. The daily routine at the institute is very rigorous with the wake up bell sounding at 4:30AM, breakfast at 6:00AM, dinner at 7PM and sleep by 8PM. Daily briefings were given by instructors to the class of 80-90 which was further divided into groups called 'ropes'. The rockcraft training was provided over the first 10 days at the institute. Once this was completed, the team set out to the basecamp which is a trek of about 5 days where the group learned snow craft while trekking. From the basecamp, the team trekked every day for 2.5 hours daily to the Rangthong glacier to practice ice craft. This was done for the next 10 days. Here, the team learns to use the different equipment like ice axe, cramp-ons, harness, ropes, decenders, jumars etc. Shubhangi also gives us an insight into the grading system at the Institute, D for distinction, A for above average, B for average and C for below average. Challenges faced during the daily training routines from food, to hygeine to family as well as the motivation to keep going. Finally, Shubhangi talks about the joy of coming back, the graduation day and bitter sweet moment of leaving friends made over the duration of the course! Links: Donate for Kerala relief & rebuilding: https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/ Donate for Kodagu relief & rebuilding: https://twitter.com/CMofKarnataka/status/1031458830087942144 Shubhangi's words: https://www.tripoto.com/profile/shubhangijeswal Link to the blog post: https://www.tripoto.com/trip/28-unforgettable-days-at-the-basic-mountaineering-course-at-hmi-darjeeling-591aa3f6b015c Link to HMI website: https://hmidarjeeling.com/ Link to application form: http://hmidarjeeling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/NewApplicationForm.pdf Follow Shubhangi on Instagram: @shubhangijeswal Facebook: @shubhangi.jeswal Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Johann Binny Kuruvilla, the face behind the blog https://kochiheritageproject.in. So sit back and enjoy as Johann takes us to his hometown!! Today's destination: Kochi, Kerala! Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport Nearest Railway Station: Ernakulam Town Station or Ernakulam Junction Station Packing - Make sure to carry some rain gear if you are there during the monsoons/rainy season Time of the year - September to February is a good time to go! Length of the itinerary: 3 days Itinerary Highlights: Johann begins by sharing his story about the journey from the corporate world to being a blogger and how one movie - Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna bhoomi inspired him to travel to the North East! Johann begins the conversation by sharing some insights into the rich history of Kochi and how it was formed when the previously prominent port city of Muziris was wiped out by the flooding of Periyar river in 1341. The itinerary begins at Fort Kochi, formerly known as Fort Emmanuel - established by the portugese explorere Vasco da gama in the 15th century. The fort was then ruled by the Dutch and later on by the British with the evolution of power. A walk through the lanes of the fort city gives one a view of the beautiful colonial era houses mingled with traditional Kerala style houses. Streets such as Princess street, Peter celli street, Burger street blend in finely with the colonial vibes of the city! Popular churches like St. Francis cathedral (where Vasco da gama was initially buried) and Santa Cruz basilica are a part of Fort Kochi. Other interesting things to do are attending a Kathakali performance at the Kerala Kathakali center The walk ends at the iconic Chinese fishing nets which have become synonymous with Kochi! From here, one can take a tuktuk or bicycle to Mattancherry, where the locals traditionally lived. This place used to be a hub of local markets and commerce as well as house boats. Make a stop at the Mattancherry palace - where the Kerala royals used to live, this was gifted by the Portuguese to the royals! The Dutch later on renovated the palace and hence it is sometimes referred to as the Dutch Palace! The palace also has a number of murals depicting the Indian epics. Johann also speaks of the diversity of Kochi that includes Marathis, Gujaratis, Konkanis, Kutchi memons, Jews, Arab muslims, Jains and many more sects that live peacefully together. The next pitstop of our journey is Thrippunithura, a historical area where the erstwhile Kerala royals lived. There is the magnificent Thrippunithura palace overlooking more than 50 acres of the fort. Sloped roof, large Dutch windows, British arches and the traditional Thacchushaastram style of architecture gives a unique flavor to the palace, which is now a museum. There is also the Poornathrayesa temple in the vicinity, which is famous for the Vrishchikoltsawam festival. The procession of decorated/Caparisoned elephants carrying the deity is a prominent event of the temple in Nov-Dec. The final pitstop of our tour is Ernakulam - the newer region of Kochi! This is the hub of all the commercial activity among other things. A lot of new projects like the Broadway - a walkway with a lot of shops and markets, the Ernakulam market, the Marine drive etc. There is also the Subhash Park where one can catch the beautiful view of the lakes and sunset. One can also indulge in shopping at the Lulu supermarket, the biggest mall in India, to end the trip! Links: Website: https://kochiheritageproject.in/  Instagram: @kochiheritageproject Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com Apple podcasts - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljor voice/text search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to a pro traveler and blogger, Sharanya Iyer who blogs under the handle "TrulyNomadly". So sit back and enjoy as Sharanya takes us places! Today's destination: Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh (29km from the Indo-China border) Nearest Airport: Lilabari (North Lakhimpur) and Guwahati (Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport)and Mohanbari (Dibrugarh) both in Assam Nearest Railway Station: Silapathar (Assam) and Naharlagun (Arunachal Pradesh) Prerequisites - Inner line permit or ILP, can be obtained online (http://arunachalilp.com/onlineApp.do) or at the Guwahati airport. Packing - Warm clothes and rain jackets/rain coats are advisable. Time of the year - April Length of the itinerary: 4 days Itinerary Highlights: Sharanya starts off her journey from Guwahati, from where she takes the Lachit express to the border town of Murkongselek, Assam. She then hailed a shared taxi to Pasighat at Ruksin gate (where one has to produce the ILP). A 4 hour cab ride to Along or Aalo is the first overnight pitstop, also the last major hub before the border town of Mechuka. She starts off for Mechuka the following morning in a shared sumo at 530AM(it's best to book the seats before hand, ideally the previous day) The last major village before hitting Mechuka is Tatu. The Siko Dido waterfall is a notable point of interest about half hour before reaching. She finally reaches Mechuka by about 230PM after a long sumo ride. For accommodation, Sharanya uses the services of Gebu Sona, one of the most popular home stays in the region (Gayboo's guest house). After relaxing for sometime and freshening up, Sharanya set out to explore the town, the market area and the new monastery. It is preferable to hire a car to see around the village and nearby points of interest. Make sure to pick up some lovely boots and woolens for a bargain, while checking out the market! While at the homestay, get a first hand experience of an open kitchen, where everyone participates in chores and sits around the fire. Delicacies include a number of beef and pork dishes. Chhang beer is a local millet based beer! Rain plans to play spoilsport on Day 2 of the itinerary but turns out Sharanya has a bunch of activities to keep her entertained at the homestay. This included hanging out with the Bruce-Lee look alike and the locals. The rain gods show some mercy the following day and Sharanya heads off to a small trek up the Samten Yongcha monastery, the 400 year old monastery that is older than the Tawang monastery. The monastery has a big Tibetan influence and has a number of traditional masks and Buddha statues. The view from the monastery is a stunning mix of browns and greens of the rolling hills, blues of the river and whites of the snow capped mountains and clouds! After spending some time at the Monastery, Sharanya and Gebu descend downwards, passing through beautiful rickety hanging bridges over the Yargyap Chu river (Also known as the Siyom river in some places) The next pitstop is the Sikh Gurudwara built on the Yargyap Chu river, built by the army. Sharanya shares some stories and a meal with the armymen while sharing the Langar. She moves on to the place where there is a Hanuman mandir and naturally formed sculpture of Hanuman! Sharanya also gives a try to making home-made jewellery at Gebu's house to end the day! On the final day of the trip, Sharanya makes a trip to Dorjeeling village to a small monastery that houses a huge Buddha statue and then made a quick hike to a small cave which has a head impression that Buddhishts believe is of the spiritual teacher Rinpoche while the sikhs believe is that of Gurunanak while he was meditating at this cave. Sharanya is introduced to a number of legends right from the crevasse in the cave to the little pools with the white, black and grey stones! Mechuka also manages to turn Sharanya into a poet, no kidding! In a valley far far away, There flows a river with a voice. Through lush forests and meadows and snowy mountains it goes, Under rickety hanging bridges and over rocky beds it roars. It talks and hums and merrily sings, Tales of lamas and tribes and other ancient things. Those were peaceful times before the world was hungry for power, it croons, No borders or wars or territorial violent loons. Om Mani Padme Hum, it chants as the valley echoes it back, The vibrant prayer flags flutter in the wind, flap flap flap. No one honks here to chase a deadline or come first in a race, it says aloud There‘s patience and goodness here, look there it is, floating with that misty cloud. You’re blessed to be here, cut away from the trappings of time and a to-do list, Paradise has been found in hiding, it does exist. Links: Shout out: https://hubhopper.com/ Link to Sharanya's blog: https://www.trulynomadly.com/ Link to the blogpost: https://www.trulynomadly.com/mechuka-guide-to-indias-shangri-la/ Follow Sharanya Iyer on Instagram: @trulynomadly Twitter: @trulynomadly Facebook: @trulynomadly Follow The Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com Apple podcasts - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Chandroma Ray, who blogs at oneearthtooless.com and loves to travel and blog when she's not wearing her corporate hat! Today's destination: Offbeat Ladakh! Nearest Airport: Leh Airport (IXL) Nearest Railway Station: Jammu Tawi (700 km from Ladakh) Prerequisites - Permits might be needed for some of the locations (Turtuk); checkposts will be encountered at the border villages like Turtuk. Make sure you acclimatize atleast for a couple of days before you set out to explore the region. Make sure to pre-book a vehicle if you plan on not using public transport! Packing - Warm clothes, shoes with good grip, first aid kit, Diamox for AMS (when needed), make sure you pack light! Time of the year - End of August - Early September Length of the itinerary: 16 days for the full Ladakh itinerary, but only the offbeat destinations like the villages of Alchi, Lamayaru, Dha and Turtuk are covered in this episode! Itinerary Highlights: Chandroma kicks off her journey on the episode by taking us to the quaint and lazy village of Alchi, situated on the banks of the river Indus! Points of interest are the old monastery of Alchi, dating back to the 11th century, and has a distinctive Kashmiri influence and has some great wall murals and paintaings. Spend time exploring the pretty cafes in Alchi for some authentic Ladakhi cuisine! Make sure to have the lamb Mok moks (known as Momos in the plains), Khambir - the home-made ladakhi breakfast bread. Just be aalsi while in Alchi, and slow travel your way to bliss! Next pitstop at the moonland of Lamayuru that is famous for its moonscapes and is about 107 kms from Leh and is accessible by bus. The village has the appearance of being in ruins and resembles the surface of the moon, gives one a feeling of travelling back in time. Best views can be seen during the early hours of dawn. Lamayuru is also home to one of the oldest monasteries in the region that dates back to the 11th century as well. One can also plan a visit around the Yuru Kabgyat Festival that takes place in the month of June/July, where the monks of the monastery put on huge masks and perform a variety of dances A quick shout out to Sandeepa/Chetan and Neelima Vallangi for their brilliant posts about the region that helped Chandroma in planning the itinerary. After spending a day in Lamayuru, heads off to the unexplored village of Dha to do something truly offbeat! About 180kms from Leh, is this village that is the home of Drokpas - the descendants of Alexandar the Great aka the Aryans, and is cut off from the rest of the world! The village is not easily located on Google maps either and the people of the village are not very welcoming to outsiders either. After having a tough time finding a place to lodge, Chandroma and her fellow travellers finally managed to find a small hotel. On exploring further, they finally met a couple of kids who took them to a local museum which was quite a find with some historic artifacts of the region. If one plans visiting the village, home-stays are not hard to come by, so it's better to pre-book and have a local contact if possible. After spending a very 'different' evening and night in the village of Dha, Chandroma heads out to village of Turtuk, on the banks of the river Shyok which is one of the last villages of India! Recaptured by India after the 1971 war with Pakistan, Turtuk is a village still trying to find its identity. The people of Turtuk are predominantly muslim and has a very different culture in comparison to the rest of Ladakh. The village also offers some great scenic views of the river Shyok, the valley and a first hand experience of the Balti culture! The region has just been opened up to tourists from 2009. Chandroma signs off with a beautiful message about why one should check out these gems of Ladakh and not just the Pangongs and Nubras! Links: Chandroma's blog: https://oneearthtooless.com/ Twitter: @pagli86 Instagram: @chandroma86 Facebook: @oneearthtooless Shout outs: A recap of Bangalore podcasters' meetup: https://medium.com/@amarvyas/podcasters-meet-in-bengaluru-cd3ee9000168 SandeepaChetan's Blog: https://sandeepachetan.com/ Neelima Vallangi's Blog: http://www.travelwithneelima.com/ Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice/ text search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Suyash Dixit, the Indian businessman who traveled to an unclaimed piece of land between Egypt and Sudan, called Bir Tawil and lay claim to the territory! And no, we're not kidding! Today's destination: Kingdom of Dixit aka Bir Tawil Nearest Airport: Abu Simbal Nearest Railway Station: N/A Time of the year - November, 2017 Length of the itinerary: 1 day Itinerary Highlights: "I, Suyash Dixit, first of my name and the protector of the realm, declare myself as the king of “Kingdom of Dixit”. I call myself, King Suyash First from today. I declare this unclaimed land of Bir Tawil as my country from now to the eternity of time. I pledge to continue to work for the prosperity of my people of the country and this motherland." This is no joke, an Indian guy from Indore, Suyash Dixit, put a lot at stake to travel to this unclaimed piece of land between Egypt and Sudan, hoisted his flag, sowed some sunflower seeds and declared himself as the ruler of the land - the land he calls, the Kingdom of Dixit! Suyash gives a brief background about his personal and professional life and how this idea of traveling to and claiming this unclaimed land came into being. We further discuss about the things at stake, the planning that went into this, the local support he recieved and the dangers he put up with! Suyash gives a detailed description of the journey and the adventures he went through to achieve this feat. This includes, traveling to Abu Simbal as the only passenger on a commercial plane! We also discuss the topography of the Kingdom of Dixit aka Bir Tawil, the size in terms of area, how Suyash hoisted his flag there, and sowed sunflower seeds to lay claim to the land! Suyash also discusses the controversies that came with this adventure and how he dealt with them. Finally, Suyash discusses his plans for this piece of land, the progress made since his journey back and how he hopes to develop this territory into a country! Links: Facebook page: @KingSuyashDixit Link to related article: Telegraph article Link to episode with Road trippers club: The Musafir Stories with Road Trippers Club! Contact RTC: website: www.roadtrippersclub.com Twitter: @roadtripperclub facebook: @roadtrippersclub instagram: @roadtrippersclub Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Saurabh from Mumbai, who authors the blog A season of Mountains under the handle www.nomadosauras.wordpress.com. Sit back and enjoy as we find out where Saurabh is taking us to today! Today's destination: Harihar Fort Nearest Airport: Ozar airport, Nashik or Mumbai Airport Nearest Railway Station: Kasara railway station or Nashik railway station Prerequisites - Medium level of fitness, make sure you're not acrophobic! Packing - Trekking shoes and gear, water for hydration, caps and energy bars. It's advisable to carry ones own food, but food is available at shacks outside the fort. Time of the year - December Length of the itinerary: 1 day Itinerary Highlights: You can start early from a nearby station (Mumbai/Pune/Nasik) to reach the Kasara railway station. Once at Kasara, you can take a shared cab to Nirgudpada/Nirgudwadi - the base village for the trek. Saurabh sheds some light on the history of this 800-1000 yr old fort and its strategic location overlooking the ancient trade route between Gujarat and Maharashtra. The fort has changed hands between the Yadavas, Moghuls, Marathas and finally acceeded to the British. The journey starts off with a few nail-biting moments as the connecting trains were running late but Saurabh and group are re-united at Thane from where they head off the Kasara and reach the station at 7:30AM. The group manage to find a cab to the base village round-trip but the journey is not without some adventure. After the suspense and some 'bollywood'esque moments in the Maruti Omni - the official kidnapping vehicle of bollywood! After some comic relief, the group finally reaches Nirgudpada at 10AM and the cabbie agrees to return back for a pickup at 5PM. The group is now looking at the majestic Harihar mountain and fort. In the vicinity, one can also see other peaks such as PhaniDhongar, Uttwad, Bhaskargad, Bhrahma hill, Brahmagiri Bhandardurg etc which are a part of the Trimbakeshwar mountain range. A 1-2km walk from Nirgudpada passing through Kotewadi leads you to the Harihar fort, staring at the iconic rock-cut vertical stairway. The 80 degree incline of the staircase and height of about 60m or 200ft, and steps that are almost 2ft hight, can take one about 2-20 mins depending on the fitness and skill level of the individual. First stop at the Maha-Darwaza or Main Gate, a semi-circular door to the fort, and a view of PhaniDhongar, Uttwad and Bhasgad mountains and the valley beneath. The group enjoy lunch with a view at the Maha-darwaza, in the passage way with a beautiful breeze, overlooking the mountain range! The group then proceeds to a helical staircase, with a sheer rock on the right makes for an adrenaline rush while ascending! There are also a number of trap doors, capable of holding off an entire army with just 5 soldiers! There are also escape doors, in case the fort is compromised by the enemy. The passageway leads you to the plateau of the fort that has a Hanuman Mandir, a pond, a few water cisterns and a Shiv Ling (Shiva statue). One can get a view of the Brahma hill as well and a clear view of the peak of the Harihar hill with the Bhagwa Jhenda (Saffron flag) which is symbolic of the Maratha King Shivaji Maharaj. A five minute trail leads you to the peak of the fort and one can enjoy a panoramic view from top of the fort, as well as a view of the base villages! After spending some time at the top, the group decides to start their descent back to the base village in order to make it in time for the 5PM pick up. THe group runs into a jam on the staircase, a nightmare given that they were up against a 5PM deadline! After all the adventure, the group makes it back to the base village in time for the pickup and end a memorable trek to an end! Links: Link to Saurabh's blog: A Season of Mountains  (https://nomadosauras.wordpress.com/) Read about Saurabh's trek to Harihar Fort  (https://nomadosauras.wordpress.com/2017/01/03/harihar-fort-trek-blog/) Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter:@musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 android - voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast", listen, subscribe and save a shortcut on your home screen! Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio -https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Vineet and Deepak, the duo behind the sparkling new initiative called Road Trippers Club - A road travel club for road trip enthusiasts, beginners and those who love hitting the roads on four wheels - Camaraderie on four wheels! #KeepTheRhythmAlive Prerequisites - 4 wheels! Just sign up on www.roadtrippersclub.com and you are good to go! Packing - Specifics vary depending upon the trip. Once you have signed up and join a micro-group, the Team captain will breif everyone about the preparation and packing list. Time of the year - N/A Length of the itinerary: Depending on the drive, the trips vary from one day trips, to weekend drives to longer drives! The Mumbai chapter of RTC has done brunch runs, city drives, drives to Dapoli, Indore, Anjarle beach for the olive ridley turtle festival and many more shapes and sizes! Episode Highlights: Vineet and Deepak share some nuggets about their history biking together, their first venture scoutmytrip.com and set the context about how The Roadtrippers club came into being. Procedure to sign up with RTC! Just log on to their website, www.roadtrippersclub.com, set up an account and sign up for a ride! No, there's nothing more to it! Next steps after signing up for the drive involve following instructions of the team captain in terms of preparation, packing, costing, activities and more. The end to end planning, as well as booking of lodging, activities, treks and other fun stuff is done well before the ride. All you need to be a part of the drive is a four wheeler - size, power, seating and everything else doesn't matter. You dont even have to own one, rent one or better, car-pool! Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your partners, bring your pets! RTC does no discrimination about who you want to bring, only objective is to have a fun drive on four wheels! The costs of the drive are equally shared amongst participants, there are no service fees, no management fees, no hidden costs - only additional cost is the GST! You also get to enjoy great deals, discounts and the perks of traveling as a group! So the odds are you are getting a better deal with RTC than if you travel by yourself! Not only do you enjoy driving with a group, you also have a safety net to fall back on in case of mishaps - The RTC community rides with you through rain and shine! You also get to learn how to be a responsible driver while driving with RTC. Learn simple techniques like engine braking, changing a flat, dealing with switchbacks and hairpin bends, how to navigate in a ghat section and more, all while you enjoy a raodtrip! Also stand a chance to be a part of special courses like the Women's day offroading event - Shifting gears, where a group of women had the chance to be a part of a certificate course on offroading! RTC believes in making a change on the ground, on the road and off it! Interested in starting an RTC chapter in your city? All you have to do is reach out to the founders on the RTC website. New chapters coming up soon, follow the Roadtrippers club on their social media for more updates Links: www.roadtrippersclub.com www.scoutmytrip.com Subscribe to the Writer & Geek show here: https://writerandgeek.com/ Link to the latest episode: https://writerandgeek.com/045-pioneer-10/ Social media: Twitter: @roadtripperclub facebook: @roadtrippersclub instagram: @roadtrippersclub Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://goo.gl/peC2Jv android - voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast", listen, subscribe and save a shortcut on your home screen! Saavn - https://goo.gl/6qp2mF web/audioBoom - http://bit.ly/2oZZowS pocketcasts - https://goo.gl/rGipJb castbox - https://goo.gl/spUCdY Overcast - https://goo.gl/fM9Som Stitcher Radio - https://goo.gl/ihL4Gr TuneIn - http://tun.in/pilOI RadioPublic - https://goo.gl/Dy2VPvSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Siddharth Keswani, an up and coming Youtuber who makes lifestyle, travel and food vlogs. Sit back and enjoy as Siddharth takes us on a speed date with Lucknow - the land of Nawabs and Kababs! Today's destination: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh! Nearest Airport: Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, LKO Nearest Railway Station: Lucknow Charbagh railway station Prerequisites - An empty stomach! Packing - N/A, just warm clothes if you visit in winter Length of the itinerary: One day! Itinerary Highlights: Kick start the day early with a visit to Sharmaji's tea stall to savour some bun makkhan with Sharmaji's Kullad vali Chai! If you are up for it, grab a bite of the samosas as well! If that didn't kick start your day, you can freshen things up by a visit to the Janeshwar Mishra park in Gomti Nagar - a vast expanse of 376 acres of green spread in the heart of Lucknow! One of Asia's biggest parks that boasts of water bodies, cycle tracks, jogging tracks, children's play areas and a wide variety of plant species! After spending time in the vast expanse of green, it's time to head over to the heart of Lucknow - the old city! Rumi Darwaza, a grand old gate built in 1784 during the time of Asaf-ud-daula, is inspired by Roman architecture offers a great photo op! Within walking distance from the Rumi Darwaza is the Bada Imambara and Chota Imambara - two beautiful congregation halls built in the 18th century. The Bada Imambara boasts of the Bhul Bhulaiya, a huge maze or three-dimensional labyrinth where one can get lost in! The imambara also has other structures like a popular step-well and some beautiful mosques nearby like the Asfi mosque. A quick ride away from the Imambaras is the Kudiya ghat situated on the banks of the Gomti River. The ghat, albeit not as popular as the ghats of Varanasi or Banaras, offers a great view of the early morning pilgrims, diyas and artis offering pooja and sadhus taking a holy dip in the river. The ghat is open from dawn to dusk. You don't have to break a sweat to get about Lucknow either - there are plenty of options with public transport, buses, rickshaws or tuk tuks and ofcourse for the uber cool, the Ubers and Olas! And oh, did I mention about the ever expanding Metro/subway trains and e-ricks? Yep, it's a thing! It's finally time for a brunch! And where better to be than Old Lucknow! Try out Rahim ki Nihari in the old city where you can sample Buffalo foot stew and SHirmal - piping hot broth also called as Paaya in parts of the country! Finish off the meal by drinking some Sulaimani chai and some makkhan malai on the side - a milk/cream based savory dish! After this sumptous brunch, it's time to walk around a bit in another of the city's green patches called eco-garden on VIP road. It's best to spend an evening in the cool confines of th eco-garden that boasts of a kid's friendly artificial zoo, a lot of water shows and green houses. After cooling down in the eco-garden, it's finally time to hit Hazrath Ganj, where the cool crowds hang out! Get introduced to Ganjing - Walking, shopping and eating around Hazrath Ganj. Siddharth also educates us and our listeners with some uber cool words like Bhowkal, Rangbazi and Rowla! Try saying that one more time! Now it's time to binge again - Try out the basket chaat or katori chaat at a chain called Royal Cafe! A sovoury food served with friend potatoes, vada, curd, and a lot of masalas! If you are up for some shopping, try out the chikan kari embroidered suits and kurtas that are synonymous with Lucknow! once you are done shopping, it's time to finish the day on a high by eating Galauti kebab at Tunday Kababi - one of the most popular kabab joints of Lucknow. If you still have more room in your tummy, also sample the chicken Biryani. And if there is still room, then go for a lucknowi paan! Links: Link to Siddharth's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEFCi3n8SE6q3p_lsv2CQ Links to siddharth's Social media: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/siddharthk121/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/siddharthk121/ Snapchat Siddharthk121 Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://goo.gl/peC2Jv android - voice or google search "The Musafir stories podcast", listen, subscribe and save a shortcut on your home screen! web/audioBoom - http://bit.ly/2oZZowS Saavn - https://goo.gl/6qp2mF pocketcasts - https://goo.gl/rGipJb castbox - https://goo.gl/spUCdY Overcast - https://goo.gl/fM9Som Stitcher Radio - https://goo.gl/ihL4Gr TuneIn - http://tun.in/pilOI RadioPublic - https://goo.gl/Dy2VPvSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Reshma Narasing from the blog thesologlobetrotter.com. Reshma is an avid traveler and backpacker who has traversed the country solo and enjoys traveling to offbeat destinations. So sit back as Reshma takes us backbacking to Bir, Himachal Pradesh! Today's destination: Bir, Himachal Pradesh Nearest Airport: Kangra Airport Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot Railway station (and rest of the journey by bus) Prerequisities - N/A Packing - Warm clothes, hiking gear, hiking shoes, camping gear Time of the year - March Length of the itinerary: 6-7 weeks Itinerary Highlights: Reshma starts the trip to Bir after completing her Nepal leg of the journey where she was on a press trip. In Bir, she was volunteering for about 6-7 weeks with Zostel, a pan India hostel chain Reshma volunteered at Zostel in terms of helping with social media marketing, customized tours, managing the reception among other things. As this was a long term volunteering opportunity Reshma had a chance to slow travel in Bir in her free time. One of the first activities she indulges in is a trek to Rajgundha. This is an overnight trek organized by Zostel where one gets to trek from Zostel, Bir and goes through a 360 degree scenic trail passing through the banks of Uhl river and virgin views of snow capped peaks culminating in take off from one of the world’s best paragliding sites. The trek also takes one through the Barot valley, home to India's first hydroelectric dam. Reshma and her friends make a stop at the quaint little village of Rajgundha where they cook together and spend the night star gazing around the bonfire. One can either spend the night at Zostel, Rajgundha or camp in the village. The trek continues and culminates at the Billing paragliding take off site. One can choose to fly down to Bir on a glider! Ride back to Zostel on a jeep. Another trek that Reshma did during the volunteering was to Gunehar river pool. Gunehar is a quaint village tucked away in the hills of the Kangra Valley. A short day hike will lead you to a waterfall, which is at a height of 100ft. Walking amidst the lush terraced fields and getting a glimpse of the village life are the best parts of this hike, apart from the gorgeous waterfalls itself. Monastery hopping is something that one can indulge in while at Bir.Palpung Monastery in Bhattu, Dzongsar Khyentse Monastery in Chauntra and Chokling Monastery in Chaugan are some of the popular ones. Reshma also enjoys playing holi with the locals of Bir and gets to try out the local Kangdi Chai as well as the traditional Himachali attire! For those interested in adventure sport, Bir is ofcourse the capital of Paragliding and was home to the 2015 Paragliding world cup. One can not just paraglide but also get certified to glide tandem and solo! Bir is also popular for cycling marathons. One can participate in a half or full marathon during the peak season. For the ones who are looking for more volunteering places like the Dharmalaya and the Deer Park institute offer some great opportunities. The Deer Park institute has played an instrumental role in teaching ancient Indian wisdom traditions. They conduct workshops and activities throughout the year ranging from Yoga to well-being, and there are also a few volunteering opportunities open for everyone. The Dharmalaya Institute has been promoting a productive and a positive living, where they conduct workshops on sustainable living. Here you learn to make use of natural resources to adopt minimalism. For the romantic ones, there are innumerable places to catch beautiful sunsets by just walking a few minutes! Links: Link to Reshma's blog : http://thesologlobetrotter.com/ Links to the blog post: http://thesologlobetrotter.com/10-things-to-do-in-bir-himachal/ http://thesologlobetrotter.com/escape-trails-raj-gundha/ http://thesologlobetrotter.com/volunteering-zostel-himachal/ http://thesologlobetrotter.com/zostel-bir-himachal/ http://thesologlobetrotter.com/bir-billing-himachal/ Other links: http://dharmalaya.in/ https://www.tripadvisor.in/AttractionReview-g1986662-d2733114-Reviews-DeerParkInstitute-BirKangraDistrictHimachal_Pradesh.html Follow Reshma on: facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesologlobetrotter/ twitter: @reshmanarasing instagram: @thesologlobetrotter Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://goo.gl/peC2Jv Saavn - https://goo.gl/6qp2mF pocketcasts - https://goo.gl/rGipJb castbox - https://goo.gl/spUCdY audioBoom - http://bit.ly/2oZZowS Overcast - https://goo.gl/fM9Som Stitcher Radio - https://goo.gl/ihL4Gr TuneIn - http://tun.in/pilOI RadioPublic - https://goo.gl/Dy2VPvSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Saakshi, from the blog My Travel Recitals. Sit back and enjoy as Saakshi takes us to an offbeat island that is a unique marvel of nature! Today's destination: Majuli River island, Assam - the biggest river island in the world, it is a tranquil piece of land located in the Brahmaputra river in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti is joined by the Subansiri River in the north! Nearest Airport: Jorhat Nearest Railway Station: Jorhat Prerequisities - n/a Packing - Nothing special! Time of the year - January Length of the itinerary: 2 days Itinerary Highlights: Saakshi headed off to Majuli as a part of a blogger group that toured the island with Koyeli travels. One needs to head to Jorhat, the biggest city from where one can head off to Majuli on a boat or ferry! Enjoy the expansive views of the Brahmaputra river as you head off from the Nemati ghat towards Majuli in just over an hour. Make sure you catch a spot on the top floor of the ferry to enjoy the awesome photo ops along the way! The views of the Brahmaputra slowly give way to tranquil islands, pure with lush green farms and thatched roof houses that takes you back in time. The first stop on the itinerary is the Dakhin Pat Satra. A Satra is essentially a Hindu monastery whose origin dates to around 500 years when a Hindu saint Sri Sankardev settled in Majuli and preached a form of Neo Vaishnavism. Although the satra has a lot of similarities with its Buddhist counterpart in terms of the monks and the hierarchy, they are nothing close in terms of the architecture which is influenced primarily by Assamese culture. The next pit stop is the Samaguri Satra or the mask making Satra - an art form that is unique and popular in this region. Saakshi also has a chance to interact with Mr. Goswami, one of the drivers of the mask making culture who also happens to be a descendant of Sankardev! Later in the day, Saakshi has a chance to experience the bhaona performances to enact Ramayana and other epics making use of the lovely masks prepared in the Satra. Saakshi's satra trail is completed with a visit to the Kamalabari Satra which is popular for the Krishna bhakti bhaona performance by young monks of the Satra. All the dance moves and postures are connected to the maati (ground) and are performed in front of the Bhagvad Gita, the holy book. Saakshi and the group retired for the day at the Dekasang Resort, a model resort based on the traditional Mishing tribe house. The resort is on the banks of the Luit river and one has the opportunity for birding as well as a canoe ride! Saakshi then visits a traditional Mishing family, the prominent tribe in Majuli and has a chance to interact with the locals and experience first hand culture and architecture of their homes! Cap off this wonderful trip by sampling the traditional rice or Porag aapin and the aromatic Mishing rice beer called Apong! Links: Links to Saakshi's blog: https://saakshirajat.com/ Link to the blog post: https://saakshirajat.com/2018/04/04/majuli-island-offbeat-experience/ Link to the accomodation in Majuli: https://www.facebook.com/Deka-Sang-Majuli-464374083739543/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mytravelrecitals/ twitter: @mytravelrecital instagram: @mytravelrecitals Follow The Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://goo.gl/peC2Jv Saavn - https://goo.gl/6qp2mF pocketcasts - https://goo.gl/rGipJb castbox - https://goo.gl/spUCdY audioBoom - http://bit.ly/2oZZowS Overcast - https://goo.gl/fM9Som Stitcher Radio - https://goo.gl/ihL4Gr TuneIn - http://tun.in/pilOI RadioPublic - https://goo.gl/Dy2VPvSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Prasanjit Kumar from the blog Behhind the Handlebar! So strap up and sit back as Prasanjit takes us on a ride to remember! Today's destination: Meghalaya! Nearest Airport: N/A Nearest Railway Station: N/A Prerequisities - The inner-line permit may be required if you are riding through some of the other NE states, however Meghalaya doesn't need one. Packing - Essentials list in the links below Time of the year - February Length of the itinerary: 29 days Itinerary Highlights: Prasanjit did the trip as a part of his North East sojourn The starting point for the trip was Mumbai from where Prasanjit, with his partner in crime, Muthu, headed off to the the North east. The first phase of the journey includes Arunachal, Nagaland and Assam. Once the duo saw through the tough route through Silchar and made their way through to Meghalaya. The first stop was the scenic Jaintia hills and Jowai. This offers some pristine views that are very untouched. Head over to the offbeat Leshka dam to check out the lovely colors of water. Next stop at the stunning Krang suri falls, yes 'that' iconic waterfalls you've seen in the pictures Experience the crystal clear waters of Dawki next, another one that is popular in the media. Prasanjit then heads on to his most favorite place from the trip - Nongkrem village where one can trek to see the root bridges You can also visit Nongriat to see the famous double decker root bridges. Finally, plan to spend the last leg of the journey in Cherapunji visiting the popular spots like Nohkalikai falls, Rainbow falls, David Scott memorial as well as a number of scenic hills and forests. Experience the flavorful food of Meghalaya, sans the spicy masalas, but tasty nonetheless. Prasanjit ends the trip by riding to Guwahati and flying back to Mumbai to attend to some urgent business. Don't worry about the bike, Prasanjit comes back a few months later to do another 25 day trip covering sikkim! Links: Link to Prasanjit's blog - http://www.behindthehandlebar.com/ Link to packing essentials - http://www.behindthehandlebar.com/technical-tips-maintenance/essentials-i-carry-on-my-moto-trips/ email: behindthehandlebar@gmail.com Whatsapp:- +91 9987973057 facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behindthehandlebar/ Instagram: @behindthehandlebar Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://goo.gl/peC2Jv Saavn - https://goo.gl/6qp2mF pocketcasts - https://goo.gl/rGipJb castbox - https://goo.gl/spUCdY audioBoom - http://bit.ly/2oZZowS Overcast - https://goo.gl/fM9Som Stitcher Radio - https://goo.gl/ihL4Gr TuneIn - http://tun.in/pilOI RadioPublic - https://goo.gl/Dy2VPv A big shout on to Bijay's podcast, The Inspiring talk. You can check it out on your favorite podcast app or on the website www.theinspiringtalk.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Satyarup Siddhanta - a Bengaluru-based Bengali mountaineer.[1] On December 15, 2017 he became the first Bengali civilian from India to complete the seven highest summits in the 7 continents. He is the President and founder of ABETO – "A better tomorrow" foundation, and works as a consultant at Brady Corporation, India.[5] Today's destination: Mt. Everest, Nepal Nearest Airport: Lukla airport Nearest Railway Station: n/a Prerequisities - Required visas, training and certification, practice and acclimatization Packing - n/a Time of the year - May Length of the itinerary: 55 days from the base camp to the Everest summit and back Itinerary Highlights: Satya shares the story of his early struggles from asthma as a kid and how he overcame this to start climbing. Satya's speaks of his expedition to Mt. Killimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa and how he discovered the feat to the 7 Summits i.e. a challenge to scale the 7 highest peaks in each of th 7 continents (Mt. Everest in Asia, Mt. Killimanjaro in Africa, Mt. Elbrus in Europe, Mt. Aconcagua in S.America, Mt. Mckinley in N.America, Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia, Mt. Vinson Masiff in Antarctica) Satya discusses his trek to the Mt. Everest base camp and how this turned into a dream to scale the summit of the tallest mountain in the world. He then also discusses how the massive expenses related to the expedition played as a deterrent to his dreams and how he overcame the challenge. Next Satya discusses the preparation and acclimitazation he underwent to scale Mt. Everest, he had to quit his existing job, take up two jobs, hire a personal trainer and overcome his sweet tooth in order to get ready for the Everest challenge! Satya explains the duration of the Everest expedition and the iterations and acclimatization involved during the push to the summit. The adversities that Satya had to face during the push to the summit are also discussed, this includes a fall in a bottomless crevasse, watcing a sherpa fall to his death while climbing, and members of other teams losing fingers due to frost bite as well as death. Satya himself suffered from temporary blindness in the left eye while close to the summit, a failed oxygen mask and 3 failed cameras! Satya finally describes the feeling of being on top of the world as well as the sights! Final thoughts and tips. Listeners can follow Satyarup on his social media handles below and contribute to his expeditions when fundraising takes place. Links to Satyarup's social media handles: website - http://satyarupsiddhanta.com/ facebook - https://www.facebook.com/satyarup.siddhanta twitter - https://twitter.com/SatyarupS instagram - https://www.instagram.com/satyarup.siddhanta/ Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com Photo by Theodor Lundqvist on UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Renuka Walter from the blog Voyager for Life! Renuka is one of the top solo women travelers from India and has worked with a number of brands and campaigns. Sit back and enjoy as Renuka takes us on her solo trip to Srinagar, Kashmir! Today's destination: Srinagar, J&K Nearest Airport: Srinagar International airport Nearest Railway Station: Srinagar Railway station Prerequisities - n/a for Indian citizens, but make sure to carry ID proof to show at checkposts Packing - Carry warm layers as the weather tends to be unpredictable. Time of the year - June, summers are quite enjoyable but winters offers different highlights. Length of the itinerary: 13 days of slow travel! Itinerary Highlights: Renuka kicks off her journey with a visit to the iconic Dal lake and enjoying shikara rides. Dal lake is a vast lake spread over 15kms in the vicinity of mountains and gardens! Relive the memorable songs shot here right from Kashmir ki kali and Mission Kashmir to Jab tak hai Jaan and Fitoor! Did you know, you could shop for all kinds of things while on a shikara! Enjoy a night in the houseboat, enjoy the serene views and unique experience spending a night in the middle of Dal lake! Visit the nearby gardens - Pari mahal, a seven storeyed terrace garden that gives great view of the city. Visit the mughal gardens - Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Gardens & Chashm-e-Shahi that add in making Kashmir valley a heaven on earth. You can also plan a visit to Asia's largest Tulip gardens, spread over 15 hectares - the tulips are in full bloom in March - April. Enjoy other offbeat experiences like visiting cherry farms, apple farms and indulge in fruit picking activities. Plan a city walk in the old city to view some brilliant architecture and the traditional marketplace with a variety of shops and bakerys. Enjoy the traditional Kashmiri cuisine like Kashmiri wazwan as well as the more cafe oriented plum cakes and varieties of tea and kahwah! Don't miss taking a walk down the boulevard road and enjoy the beautifully designed houses and villas. Links: Link to Renuka's blog: https://www.renuka-voyagerforlife.com/ Links to related blog posts: https://www.renuka-voyagerforlife.com/2017/11/the-majestic-mountains-of-himalayas-await-you-in-srinagar.html https://www.renuka-voyagerforlife.com/2015/07/my-old-city-photo-walk-in-srinagar.html https://www.renuka-voyagerforlife.com/2015/07/its-easy-to-fall-in-love-with-srinagar.html https://www.renuka-voyagerforlife.com/2015/07/where-to-stay-in-srinagar.html Link to social media handles: FB: @renukatravelbuff Twitter: @renukawalter Instagram: @voyagerforlife Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Divyakshi Gupta, the Quirky wanderer!  Today's destination: Roadtrip to Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. Kinnaur is one of twelve administrative districts in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, India. The district is divided into three administrative areas – Pooh, Kalpa, and Nichar(Bhabanagar)– and has five tehsils (counties). The administrative headquarters of Kinnaur district is at Reckong Peo.   Nearest Airport: Jubbar Hatti, 244km  Nearest Railway Station: Shimla railway station Prerequisities - N/A Packing - Pack warm clothes as the winters tend to be colder in the mountains! Also recommended to carry medicines for altitude related illness.  Time of the year - September! The apple picking season! Length of the itinerary: 2 weeks Itinerary Highlights:  - This trip was headed by Doreen, who is a seasoned traveler and expert tour leader. You can reach out to Divyakshi for more details about Doreen's tour groups.  The trip is kicked off at Chandigarh from where Divyakshi and her group head out in 3 vehicles. First stop is at Fagu, which is a quaint village ahead of Shimla.  Fagu serves as a pitstop for the overnight stay. Lodging at the HP tourism hotel - Appleblossom. (http://hptdc.in/index.php/the-apple-blossom-fagu/) - Head off from Fagu the next morning with short stops at Rampur, one of the bigger towns and centers of commerce in the area. Carry on towards Sarahan to retire for the day. Sarahan is a  small village on the way to Kinnaur and offers beautiful views of the Shrikhand Mahadev mountains. Lodging at The Shrikhand (http://hptdc.in/index.php/the-srikhand-sarahan/) which has amazing views of the mountains! Make a visit to the much revered Bhima Kali temple and be wowed by the architecture! This also offers great view of a valley of flowers (not the Uttarakhand one!) on the way to the temple! Divyakshi also gets a chance to visit bird pheasentry, that preserves some rare species of birds.   Finally enter Kinnaur on NH22, yep the (in)famous National Highway 22! Welcome to Kinnaur!  Make sure to take the blessings of Taaranda devi while entering the stretch! Enjoy the lovely views of the valleys, mountains and the Baspa and Sutlej rivers! First stop at Sangla, stay at the lovely luxury experience at Kinner camps (http://www.kinnercamps.com/), surrounded by Deodhar trees and a minute away from the river banks! The place is run by the lovely host, Mr. Dalip Negi! Must NOT miss!  Make a visit to the Badrinarayan temple in Batseri, and enjoy the lovely architecture. If you are there in early September, do not miss the celebrations of the Phulaich festival, an annual celebration of the Kinnauris. Batseri village is a small walk from Kinner camps where you can go visit apple orchards! A day trip to Chitkul village - th last village on the Indo-Tibetan highway after which the China border starts! Enjoy time out on the banks of river Baspa, buckwheat fields, berries and more! Also visit the Kamru fort, an old fort that was used by the erstwhile rulers of Himahchal and has a beautiful Kamkya devi temple as well! Leave Sangla to go to Kalpa, the next pitstop of the journey. Lodging at the Grand shambala (http://thegrandshambala.com/), enjoy the hospitality by the host Mr. Prithvi Negi! Local trips include a visit to the makers of kinnauri shawls, juice factory, authentic kinnauri jewellery, the Suicide point! Enjoy apple picking sessions, yoga facing the mountains, the library where the only sound is of nature, and a hip cafe at the Grand Shambala!   Links: Link to Divyakshi's blog:  http://www.quirkywanderer.com/ Links to the blog post: http://www.quirkywanderer.com/2017/09/01/the-magic-of-kinnaur/ http://www.quirkywanderer.com/2017/06/27/kinner-camps-and-the-beauty-of-sangla/ http://www.quirkywanderer.com/2017/02/18/exploring-kalpa-grand-shamba-la/ http://www.quirkywanderer.com/2016/10/31/nh22-one-of-the-deadliest-roads-in-the-world/ http://www.quirkywanderer.com/2016/10/22/a-walk-in-batseri-village-sangla/ http://www.quirkywanderer.com/2016/10/14/spotting-om-over-the-kinner-kailash-mountain-range/ Follow the Quirky wanderer on Twitter: @Divsigupta Facebook: @thequirkywanderer  Instagram: @divsigupta website: www.quirkywanderer.com Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories  Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Neeharika Satyavada who is a digital strategist turned blogger from Hyderabad! Sit back and enjoy as Neeharika takes us on a roadtrip through Karimnagar! Today's destination: Karimnagar, TS Nearest Airport: Rajiv Gandhi Intl airport, Hyderabad Nearest Railway Station: Karimnagar railway station Prerequisities - n/a Packing - comfortable clothes and shoes as there might be some climbing to do at the forts! Time of the year - Monsoons is the best season to go see the forts and ruins surrounded by shades of green. Length of the itinerary: 2 days Itinerary Highlights: Day 1 Molangur Fort Built during the reign of Kakatiya dynasty/ Prathapa Rudra: 1163 - 1195 (12th centry) This is also a transit point between Warangal and Elgandal The fort is located on a granite hill and has unfortunately been a victim of incessant quarrying. Still no concrete efforts to stop the degradation The fort also houses the Molang Shah dargah, named after a famous saint who visited the region Additionally, two temples dedicated to lord Shiva are also present so is a well famously called as Doodh bawli Elgandal Fort This is a magnificent fort on the banks of Manair river It is famous for 3 minars that gives us some insight into the architecture of the kakatiya dynasty. The minars are a part of a mosque situated right on top of the fort. There is also a small Hanuman temple while scaling up the fort steps which is functional. The fort was eventually occupied by Qutub Shahi dynasty, the Moghuls and Nizams after a period of rule under the Kakatiyas and Bahamanis. The fort was rebuilt in 1754 AD by Zafaruddhaula during the reign of Sikendar Jha. - Karimuddin was a khilledar and Karimnagar was named after him, gives us an idea of the significance of the fort and the rulers. After spending the second half of the day at Elgandal, you can head back to Karimnagar town for lodging. The town also boasts of some silver filigry work and miniatures of charminar and other monuments. After spending the night at Karimnagar, you can head off to visit more temples on Day 2 Day 2 Manthani ruins This historical place is also known as Mantrapuri or village of hymns, center for vedic learning It is famous for the Gautameshwar temple with Shiva as the residing deity. The ruins have an eerie look about them, specially during the monsoons when the area is covered by lush green grass and moss. Situated on the banks of river godavari adds to the great views at the temple This place has been famous as the home to 1000 brahmin families, often refered to as house of mantras (hymns) The ruins are reminiscent of the scens from the Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book (Indian version) where Mowgli ends up a the ruins of the ancient temple. Nagnur ruins These ruins are of Kakatiya and Kalyana temples, some built by the Chalukyas The mainstay of the area is the Trikuta temple (3 idols of Shiva) Lord Shiva is the residing god of the Trikuta temple. The temple is currently being restored and conserved. Other places of interest: Dhulikatta (buddhist shrine) which has relics and stupas attributed to Buddhism. Links: Link to the blog post: https://mapinmypocket.com/2016/08/15/road-tripping-through-karimnagar/ https://mapinmypocket.com/2017/04/26/town-of-hymns-manthani/ https://mapinmypocket.com/2017/04/12/lost-in-time-nagunur-ruins/ More about the Guest: You can also reach out to Neeharika on her social media handles Twitter: @mapinmypocket Facebook: @mapinmypocket Instagram: @mapinmypocket website: www.mapinmypodcket.com email: neeharika.satyawada@gmail.com Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sarmistha Ghosh, from the blog Footloosein.me. Sarmistha is based in Pune and has extensively covered the state of Maharashtra as well as other Indian destiantions. In Sarmistha's own words - “You can always make money, but you can’t always make memories”. She wants to make the world her home and does not want to be confined to one place.  Today's destination: Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra    Nearest Airport: Ratnagiri airport Nearest Railway Station: Ratnagiri Prerequisities - n/a Packing - Pack light for a roadtrip. Make sure to carry enough sunscreen and shades. And save plenty of rooom in your car for MANGOES! Time of the year - Summer time for the mangoes, winters for the views! Length of the itinerary: One week Itinerary Highlights:  - Sarmistha starts off on her roadtrip from Pune, the first stop being Harihareshwar for the beach views! Below are the trip highlights: Harihareshwar (part of Raigad district) - Beautiful views of the casuarina lined beach - Two temples  Kalabhairav and Lord Shiva - Shriwardhan beach nearby is also popular for a variety of activities - MTDC resorts and hotels are conveniently located Anjarle - Another popular place for beaches with great views of the shoreline - The beach leads to the estuary of the river Jog, that is complimented by each side with mangrove forests. The Alphonso mangoes, also revered as the King of all fruits are found in abundance! - Cashew nut and mango trees line either side of the river Jog - Kadyawarcha ganapati temple is another popular attraction Harnai - This harbor town is famous for the fish market - Kanakadurga fort is a prominent attraction here. It was built to connect to the Suvarnadurga fort, another sea fort. There is a beautiful lighthouse here that you can visit.  - Suvarnadurga fort is on a hilly island and you'll have to take a ferry ride to get there - Visit the fish market to get a see fresh catch being auctioned by fishermen Karde - More beach views, this time a rocky beach which offers water sports. Great views of the moonlit beach from Sarmistha's accommodation. - Dolphin rides available from the beach.   - Sample the tasty local cuisine like 'Kombdi vade' - vada/puri with chicken is another speciality - ‘Solkadhi’ a digestive drink made of coconut milk and kokum. - 'Modhak' or a special kind of sweet that resembles dumplings, only much more savory! Guhagar - The Anjanvel fort or the Gopalgad Fort along with the lighthouse are places not to be missed - Experience home made konkani food with the likes of ‘gharghuti jewan’ (home-made meal), Gavran komdi (country chicken) and sea food like prawns, crabs, pomphret and other varieties of fish. - Tolekeshwar temple, Dashabhuja Ganesh Temple  and Velneshwar Temple are prominent temples of this region.  - Take the Tavsal ferry to get you across to the Jaigad creek and the Jaigad fort.  Ganpatipule - Famous for the temple of Ganapati that is located on the beach (Adevade beach).There is a Mushakraj idol at the entrance of the temple (mouse gaurding the temple) - A number of leisure activities are on offer at the beach.  - Lodging close to the Arevare beach with some beautiful views Ratnagiri - Make sure to have a pitstop at Ratnagiri city (a port city within the Ratnagiri district.) - Famous for the Ratnadurg/Bhagwati fort and the lighthouse - There are a number of mangrove forests and coconut trees all along the route to the fort. - Thibaw palace, King Thibaw deported from Burma in 1885 is also located here. Links: Link to Sarmistha's blog: https://footloosein.me/about/destinations/ratnagiri/   Twitter: @footlooseinme facebook: @footlooseinme Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories  Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Chittra from the Masala Box, a blog where she shares her travels and adventures along with other musings of life! Today's destination: Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh Nearest Airport: Jabalpur Nearest Railway Station: Umaria Prerequisities - make sure to book your tickets for the safari as well as lodging well before time as it tends to fill up fast. Packing - Dont forget to carry your camera! Bug repellants are also a good idea along with sunscreen and shades. Length of the itinerary: 2 days Lodging at: Tiger's den resort Itinerary Highlights: Chittra gives us a run down of her experience about getting to Bandhavgarh national park and her tryst with the big cat. Chittra did two safaris during her visit to Bandhavgarh, an evening safari and a morning safari. They booked a jeep for both safaris. Blessed with a great guide and driver, Chittra set off on her expedition into Bandhavgarh. The evening Safari was not very eventful but Chittra still manages to catch a bunch of Langoors, wild dogs, deer and some birds. The morning safari starts early in the morning, so be sure to be out by 5 am in order to get ahead of the pack. After listening to some calls by langoors and deer, Chittra and her group decide to wait it out close to a place where they spot some pug marks as the group heard to interesting stories of Sita and Charger from the guide! After an hour long wait, Chittra was lucky to capture one of her best shots to date, a tiger with a kill that walks past her jeep. It was Spotty, the mother tigress who was taking the kill to her cubs. A sight most of us aren't lucky enough to catch! Chittra shares other tips while travelling to national parks and things to avoid. Links: Link to the blog post: http://masalabox.co.in/spotting-tiger-bandhavgarh-national-park/ Link to Chittra's blog: www.masalabox.co.in Link to the MP forest dept: www.forest.mponline.gov.in Link to the lodging: www.tigerdenbandhavgarh.com More about the Guest: Chittra is an avid traveler who has been criss-crossing the map exploring new places, tasting different cuisines and constantly trying to understand different cultures of the place. Masalabox is not just a manifestation of her travel diaries and journals but also features quite a few funny anecdotes that encountered during her travels, some memorable moments from life, some moments of angst on the society, and some opinions on everything in the world! She also does a section on movie/play reviews called 'Musings of Life'. So sit back and enjoy as we unravel the stories in the masala box.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sachin Bhandary from Eccentrips. Sachin is building a startup that focuses on long term purposeful travel. Listen to Sachin talk more about his flip on the executive MBA - The 12 project and how he traversed India in 25 days and 25 trains, touching the 4 farthest railway stations - Kanyakumari (S), Ledo (E), Baramulla (N) and Okha (W)! Today's destination: India! Nearest Railway Station: Is not far away! Prerequisities - confirmed railway tickets! Packing - Pack light, make sure you carry locks for your bags! Length of the itinerary: 25 days! Itinerary Highlights: Sachin starts off on the journey from CST railway terminal, Mumbai Sachin heads towards the first milestone of the trip to the southern most tip of India - Kanyakumari, with stops at Sachin's native town, Udupi. Dont miss out savoring some delicious food on the Mandovi Express. Next head towards the east of India, Ledo in Assam. The journey includes traveling on the Vivek Express, the longest train journey in India. This leg is not without drama, so make sure you stay tuned! Head towards Baramulla in J&K as Sachin shares his experience with one of the locals in Srinagar where he spent a night Final leg towards Okha in Gujarat as Sachin battles to stay sane and physically fit on this exhausing journey Links: Link to the blogpost: http://www.eccentrips.com/25days25trains/ Twitter: @eccentricsachin facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eccentrips/?ref=br_rs contently: sachinbhandary.contently.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Saumy Nagayach, a Pune based blogger, photographer and full time software engineer who loves writing poetry as much as he loves writing code. So sit back and enjoy as Saumy takes us to explore some of the hidden gems of Madhya Pradesh Today's destination: Dhar, Madhya Pradesh Nearest Airport: Indore, MP Nearest Railway Station: Mhow, MP Prerequisities - N/A Packing - Pack light, weather can be hot in summers. Time of the year - December Length of the itinerary: One can do a day trip to Dhar, or spread it over two days to cover the place at a slow pace. Overall 5 day itinerary covering Dhar, Mandu, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Ujjain Itinerary Highlights: Start off with the majestic Dhar fort, built by Mohammed bin Tughluq, in the 14th century. The fort is built of red stone and is located on a small hill. The walls of the fort can easily be seen from a good distance. Places of interest are the Kharbuja mahal, in the shape of a musk melon, which was built inside the fort and is best known as the place where last Peshwa i.e. Bajirao II of Maratha Empire was born. From Kharbuja palace, one can see the whole city and Munj Sagar lake. The Munj Sagar lake was excavated by Raja Bhoja's uncle Vakpati Munja in 10th century Check out the district archaelogical museum within the fort campus - it is one of the oldest museums in MP, built in the year 1902. Next stop is the Bhoj Shala, built by the great Raja Bhoj, is a center for learning. The pillars and walls have stone carvings and people say that Raja Bhoj had written some literature/grammar/poetics there.Some of the Sanskrit inscriptions of those times were found in 1903 by an expert and then he researched more about it and gave this place the name "Bhoj Shala". Lat Masjid is another point of interest which is unique in the sense that the mosque was built in 1405 by Dilawar Khan from the ruins of Hindu and Jain temples. An iron pillar used to be there which is now broken and is displayed outside the Mosque (the mosque is named after this iron "lat" pillar). Make a quick stop at the Phadke studio. Raghunath Krishna Phadke was an Indian artist and many of his artifacts are installed at several places in India. Phadke taught the clay art to many of his students and a lot of his works can be seen at Phadke Studio, Dhar Don't forget to grab some poha and poha jalebi for the road! Links: Link to Saumy's blog - www.saumynagayach.blogspot.in Link to the blog post - http://saumynagayach.blogspot.ae/2017/04/hidden-gems-of-madhya-pradesh-dhar.html Twitter @saumynagayach facebook - https://www.facebook.com/saumynagayach21/?pnref=lhc email - saumynagayach@gmail.com More about the guest - A novice photographer, an enthusiastic blogger and an IT Engineer by profession. Saumy also loves to write poems and tell stories around pictures. Photos featured in: National Geographic Traveller India Well known Instagram accounts like Maharashtraig, SplendidIndia, Discover_India. Some of the best Travel/Photography Blogs of India.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Swati Sinha from the blog Recipe for Travel! Swati is a working professional based in Bangalore, who blogs about her travel and experiences, with the aim of sharing and enjoying these experiences with more people. Today's destination: Shimla aboard the Kalka-Shimla toy train Nearest Airport: Chandigarh Nearest Railway Station: Kalka Prerequisities - The booking of the Kalka Shimla trains opens only a month in advance, so it maybe useful to work with a travel agent to book tickets. Packing - Warm clothes for the higher altitudes, pills for motion sickness may be useful. Time of the year - April Length of the itinerary: 5 days Itinerary Highlights: The journey is kickstarted by flying in to Chandigarh, where Swati spends a day with her family exploring the famous Rock garden and Sukhna lake. Pal's Dhaba is a must stop eatery! Leave for Kalka early morning to board the UNESCO world hertiage site declared Kalka-Shimla heritage train. The train is a meter gauge that covers about 100kms passing through 102 tunnels and innumerable bridges. Interesting legends around the Barog tunnel! Arrive at Shimla in the second half of the day and explore the Mall road and surrounding areas! Start early for the heritage walk next morning, organized by Sumit Vashisht from Shimla walks! Important stops at the Christ church by the ridge, State library, Bandstand, General post office, Scandal point, Vice regal lodge and President nivas. Spend the rest of the day exploring Anna dale and Jhaako temple which is home to the 108 foot Hanuman statue towering over Shimla Spend the final day exploring Chail and the Kaali ka tibba before returning to Shimla! Links: Swati's blog - http://www.recipe4travel.com/ Instagram - @recipe4travel Twitter - @recipe4travel facebook - https://www.facebook.com/recipe4travel/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week The Musafir Stories talk to Mary Ann Thomas and Daniel Baylis, two bicyclists from North America who have been bicycle touring across India. Follow Mary Ann's journey on Instagram on : https://instagram.com/postcardsfrommat Follow her blog at http://postcardsfrommat.com/ Follow Daniel's work on http://www.danielbaylis.ca/ Follow the journey on www.strava.com/danielbaylis www.warmshowers.org #India #Cycling #Touring #MaryAnnThomas #America #DanielBaylis #Canada #PostcardsFromMAT #Culture #People #Explore #Leh #Kolkata #Kanyakumari #Road #Trip #warmshowers.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Neelendra Nath, a London based Management Consultant, Startup Evangelist and a blogger who writes at http://travelwithneel.com/ Neel has some very interesting post about travel, work and the world around! Join us as Neel takes us with him to explore the ruins of Mandu! Today's destination: Mandu / Mandavgad, Madhya Pradesh Nearest Airport: Indore, Madhya Pradesh Nearest Railway Station : Indore, Madhya Pradesh Packing - Pack light weighted cool clothes, sun screen and a camera! Time of the year - November to February Time of the year Neal travelled: March Length of the itinerary: Checkout Neel's photos of Mandu: https://www.facebook.com/neelendra.nath/mediaset?set=a.10153927164244852.1073741878.803299851&type=1&l=0e55c71b6d https://www.facebook.com/neelendra.nath/mediaset?set=a.10153922792369852.1073741877.803299851&type=1&l=b9431f1900 https://www.facebook.com/neelendra.nath/media_set?set=a.10153935438764852.1073741879.803299851&type=1&l=d9deea0e51 Neel's Blog : http://travelwithneel.com/ Instagram: @TravelwithNeel Twitter: @ithrahim #MadhyaPradesh #Madhya #Pradesh #Mandu #Mandav #Dhar #Malwa #Neelendra #Nath #NeelNath #TheMusafirStories #Travel #History #Vacation #Story #Old #Ruins #Love #War #Mughal #Forts #Pillars #LordOfTheRings #Roopmati #BaazBahadur #Narmada #RiverSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Vibha Ravi, a Mumbai-based independent writer, journalist and a travel professional. She has written travel articles for Lonely Planet Magazine (India), Moneycontrol and Thomas Cook (India). Vibha has an amazing travel blog called PixelVoyages that has very interesting posts about various Indian and International destinations. Join us as Vibha takes us with her to explore Shekhawati! Today's destination: Shekhawati, Rajasthan Nearest Airport: Jaipur, Rajasthan Nearest Railway Station : Jaipur, Rajasthan Packing - Pack light weighted cool clothes, sun screen and a camera! Time of the year - November-Feburary Length of the itinerary: 4 Days Checkout Vibha's interesting post about Shekhawati: https://pixelvoyages.com/2015/12/17/shekhawatis-havelis-an-architectural-perspective-and-brief-travel-guide/ Vibha's Blog : https://pixelvoyages.com/ #PixelVoyages #TheMusafirStories #Shekhawati #Haveli #Fresco #Rajasthan #Rajput #Fatehpur #Nawalgarh #Jhunjhunu #Mandawa #paint #wallPaintingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to the founder of Travelling Camera Vijay Sharma, a technology professional based in Noida who also has a keen interest in photography. With more than 9 million page views till date, TravellingCamera and VJ Sharma are well known in the Indian Blogging space. Join us as Vijay takes us with him to one of his most epic treks till date - The Shrikhand Mahadev trek!. Today's destination: Shrikhand Mahadev Trek, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh Nearest Airport: Bhuntar Airport, Kullu Nearest Railway Station : Shimla Nearest Town : Nirmand Village Prerequisities - trekking stick, water bottle, trekking gear, rain suit and not to forget a cap/hat and sunscreen to save you from sun burns! Packing - Light weighted warm clothes, energy bars, Energy drinks, Oral Rehydration Salts, dry fruits and a camera! Time of the year - July to August Length of the itinerary: 7 Days Trek Level - Difficult, it is a necessity to be in good physical and mental shape. Itinerary Highlights: Shrikhand Mahadev is situated at an height of 18,700 ft. above sea level in the Great Himalayan National Park of Himachal Pradesh, India Make sure to carry a light weighted water bottle and a lot of energy bars, Energy drinks, Oral Rehydration Salts, dry fruits. The trek starts from Jaon village in Nirmand region of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh, porters can be arranged from this location. Make sure to purchase trekking gear, shoes/boots, caps before hand or at Shimla (nearest) Beautiful Apple Orchards can be found in Jaon Village and Singh Ghat Beautiful view of mountains and clouds can be seen from Valley of Flowers After crossing Thachru Village, most of the hills are at an angle of 75 degree steep First view of the Shrikhand Mahadev can be seen from Kaali Ghati during morning hours Bheem Dwari has a number of beautiful waterfalls from hills covered in snow After crossing Parvati Bag, a number of Rock hills start with clouds at ground level, giving you a view that can be seen from an aeroplane This Cloud Store can be seen from Bheem Paudi At the end of the trek you can see a mammoth Rock-made Shivalingam on the mountain. The Shivalingam is 72 Feet hight and stands still on a mountain top above 18000 feet altitude. Checkout Vijay Sharma's interesting post about this trek at https://phototravelings.blogspot.in/2008/07/shrikhand-mahadev-25th-30th-july-2008.html Vijay's Blog : www.travellingcamera.com More can be read about Vijay Sharma and his team at https://phototravelings.blogspot.in/p/team.html #trek #adventure #HimachalPradesh #camping #snow #pilgrimage #pilgrims #religion #Shiva #Shivling #Shimla #Shivalingam #Hills #mountain #cloud #Shrikhand #Mahadev #ShrikhandMahadev #VJSharma #TravellingCamera #TheMusafirStoriesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to up and coming instagrammer, Shikhar Lohia, who posts under the handle @upandmeandering. Shikhar is a recent graduate of Delhi university who works for an international property consultant and is based out of Delhi. Today's destination: McLeod Gunj Nearest Airport: Gaggal airport Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot railway station is located at a distance of 90 km from Mcleodganj and is the nearest broad gauge rail head to the city. The nearest meter gauge railway stations to the city are Kangra and Nagrota Prerequisities - n/a Packing - Some warm clothes and a camera! Time of the year - Summer is the best time to visit the hills! Length of the itinerary: 1 week Itinerary Highlights: Shikhar sets out on this week long trip from Delhi by boarding a bus at the Kashmere gate Shikhar explores the city center and local cuisine on the first couple of days A chance encounter with an American couple led to one of the highlights of this trip - getting to attend the teaching of Dalai Lama! Shikhar spent more time reading about the Dalai Lama and exploring local cuisine and culture, photographing the city. Also on the agenda was a visit to the Bhagsu Nag temple, Bhagsu Nag falls and the famous Shiva cafe, spending time sipping on tea and talking about random things under the stars! Do not miss a visit to the Dal lake, the namesake of the one in Kashmir. It has a unique feel to it nestled in the Deodhar trees in th backdrop of mountains! Finally, Shikhar spent his final part of the journey volunteering with the Lha charitable trust, teaching conversational english to Tibetan refugees. Must visit - Jimmy's Cafe for some amazing waffles, Shiva's cafe for some hot coffee by the calming waterfalls, Tibetan kitchen for some mouth-watering momos! More about the Guest: Instagram - @upandmeandering Tripoto profile - https://www.tripoto.com/profile/shikharlohia6049496See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sandy & Vyjay from the blog Voyager. VOYAGER was born out of a burning desire to share our travel experiences and stories with others. The more they traveled, the more they felt the need to record and share our experiences and this finally led to the crystallization of VOYAGER, a one-stop place for information and stories about travel destinations, food and culture as well as travel tips. Today's destination: Sikkim Nearest airport: Bagdogra Airport Nearest Railway Station: New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri Prerequisities - permit required for Nathula pass Packing - warm clothes, pills for AMS Time of the year - November Length of the itinerary: 7 days Itinerary Highlights: Pristine views of Pelling, the great Kanchenjunga mountains the sacred khecheopalri lake Kanchenjunga waterfalls; Singshore hanging bridge Spending time visiting monastries The golden Buddha statue at Buddha park - Ravangla; bird watching and hiking; sunrise point and view of the greater himalayas Spending time in Gangtok - MG road, cafes, Hanuman Tok, Ranka monastery Namgyal institute of tibetology Lighting earthern lamps at Do-drul chorten buddhist stupa for world peace Spending the evening at Banjhakri falls and park Changu lake, highest ATM, Sherathang, Baba mandir and Nathula pass Link to Sandy & Vyjay's blog - http://imvoyager.com/ Link to related blogposts - http://imvoyager.com/a-road-trip-to-die-for-gangtok-to-nathula-at-an-altitude-of-14-400-feet-nathula-gangtok-roadtrip-india-mountains-sikkim-military-china-blog/ p http://imvoyager.com/ravangla-pelling-gangtok-sikkim-buddha-temple-travel-blog/ http://imvoyager.com/pelling-sikkim/ More about the Guest: http://imvoyager.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to  Sai Kumar as we continue disucssing his ascent towards Leh-Ladakh after having successfully covered the terrains of the Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Punjab. So sit back and enjoy part 2 of the Great Indian Road trip! Time of the year - July Length of the itinerary: 77 days, 11,124kms!!! Itinerary Highlights:  Sai continues his journey from Amritsar towards Ladakh, albeit with a slight change of plan due to the unrest in Srinagar. He finds a travel companion in Peter, a British explorer who has been riding his bike across the world, and the two set off towards Kashmir via the challenging Sach Pass, the mother of all passes! This was one of the most challenging stretches of the road trip, yet completely pristine and serene. There were a couple of landslides to deal with as well as streams to cross! Finally a stop at Killar for the night, after almost 16 hours on the road Continue riding towards Key long, the last base before riding towards Leh with a stopover at Udaipur(HP) and Saarchu! Start early, pass Pang before you hit the Leh-Manali highway and enjoy riding on good roads after a long time. Finally reach Leh on day 36! Sai spends about two weeks here where he meets up with family traveling from Bangalore! Some things to do are Pangong Lake, slightly over-rated according to Sai. Visit monasteries like Thiksey monastery, Shanti Stupa, the market place of Leh. Homestays is a good way to interact with the locals and be closer to the local culture.  Treks to Nubra valley, seeing camels, Kargil war museum and tons of things to do in this beautiful town of Leh!  Finally start the descend downwards (although the original plan was to travel south east towards Assam, the flood situation in Bihar, UP and Assam forced Sai to change directions again) Leh - Jaspa - Manali- Chandigarh. Finally get to enjoy the good roads after close to a month and enjoy some good food! Ride towards Delhi for a short trip and enjoy the sights around NCR before heading out towards Agra! Hit the Yamuna express way to reach Agra in a whiff!  Watch the mighty Taj Mahal in all its glory and Sai also got to celebrate his birthday in Agra, albeit he was a bit sick From here heads off towards MP where Khajuraho is his next stop - exploring the iconic temples and learning about the history of the place. Hiring a local tourist guide would be beneficial.  Start riding towards AP and Telangana and reach Hyderabad!Feeling closer to home! Enjoy the sights of Hyderabad! Get some rest and head off towards Bangalore! Sai had to suffer another scare as there were Cauvery water related riots in Bangalore and parts of Tamil Nadu. Sai manages to get away to Hosur before things get out of hand.  Sai continues towards Madurai and visits the Meenakshi Amman temple, an architectural marvel! Sai next heads off to Kanyakumari, enjoys Onam festivites on the way, enjoying some Sadya - the traditional meal of Onam! Visit the Swami Vivekananda rock memorial and museum to know more about his journey across India! Before finishing off the journey, Sai decides to join his family for the Sabarimala pilgrimage after which he returns back to Coimbatore - where it all started. A bitter-sweet feeling, on one hand you are back  to the comforts of home, but deep down, you know your freedom you enjoyed during the trip is going to die a gradual death! Links: Link to Sai's blog - www.planetsai.com Link to the photo story - http://imgur.com/a/aE9nR #travel #trip #road #bike #India #IncredibleIndia #TheMusafirStories #SaiKumar #Ladakh #British #explorer #Kashmir #Sach #Pass #Killar #Pangong #Lake #3Idiots #Thiksey #monastery #Yamuna #TajMahal #Hyderabad #Swami #Vivekananda #Memorial #CoimbatoreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sai Kumar, the man behind the handlebar of our most epic road trip so far. Sai grew up in the UAE before moving to India for his graduation. Sai later went on to do his masters in the UK before moving back to the UAE. Find out how Sai quit his job to follow his passion to travel India! Today's destination: INDIA! Sai's Ride - Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500cc Prerequisities - preparation for the trip in terms of funding, crowdfunded, roughly cost about 1.3lakhs for the entire trip Packing - Medicines, spares, travel accessories, tent, sleeping bag, rucksack (clothes, documents, camera, laptop, dry fruits), tripod, tent, saddle bags (bike spares, winter clothes, camera accessories, personal toiletteries), jerry can for spare fuel Time of the year - July-October 2016 Length of the itinerary: 77 days and 11,124kms!!! Itinerary Highlights: The journey was planned to cover the points of Saint Adishankaracharya's four vedic centers in the four corners of India. Coimbatore was the starting point of the journey, the place where Sai was based. First pitstop at Kannur, Kerala - stop for the night, enjoy the Theyyam form of dance/worship if you find time! Ride along the konkan coast with stops at Mangalore/Udupi for lunch and reach Murudeshwar before sunset. Enjoy the beautiful view of the enormous Shiva statue overlooking the beach. Rise early and ride towards Goa! Pitstop at a friend's house in Mapusa, visit the beaches like Anjuna that are close by. Spend the night in Goa and start riding towards Mumbai the next morning. ENjoy the beautiful coastal roads of the Konkan region, make stops at beautiful forts on the way. Break for a few days in Mumbai, hanging out with friends and recharging yourself for the journey ahead. Move towards Gujarat once you start from Mumbai Pitstop at Bhuj enroute to the Rann of Kutch! Enjoy the views around the Rann in offseason and literally no people around(spoiler alert - the Rann is flooded in off-season!) Relive the legend of the Kala Dungar temple and the jackals. Ride towards Jaisalmer the next day. Enjoy the Thar desert safari with Sharukh Khan and Salman Khan! No kidding! Next stop at at Jugaad - the hostel, in Amritsar! One of the best experiences during the trip, Sai spends close to a week exploring Amritsar and Punjab. Enjoy the various trips organized by the hostel! Food trips - food walks, eat all you can contest, visit the amazing Golden temple, offer prayers and serve food Wagah border trip - Hey Pakistan! Village trip - milking cows, farming, live the village life! After spending some great time in Punjab, it was time to head towards Kashmir. Unfortunately, the situation was tense in Kashmir and needed a change of plans - Sai had to ride through Manali, rather than Srinagar which was the original plan Find out what happens next in Part 2 of the Great Indian Road Trip only on The Musafir Stories next week. Links: Link to Sai's blog - www.planetsai.com Link to the photo story - http://imgur.com/a/aE9nR #travel #great #india #IncredibleIndia #RoadTrip #holiday #adventure #royalEnfield #ThunderBird #Kerala #Karnataka #Maharastra #Goa #Gujrat #Punjab #Rajasthan #Wagah #RannOfKutch #Murdeshwar #Western #Ghats #Konkan #Malabar #Bullet #MotorBike #Bike #TheMusafirStories #PlanetSai #IndiaTravelPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Kartik Kannan from the blog Katchu Travels. Kartik is a product manager by profession advising early phase start ups. He also loves shooting weddings in his free time while also pursuing his love for travel through travel documentaries, like the #BeachTrail2017! Today's destination: The Beach Trail - based on the movie 'The Beach', this is set in Thailand and tries to recreate the magic from the DiCaprio starrer, The Beach, based on the novel by Alex Garland.   Nearest Airport: Koh Samui/Don Mueang air port Prerequisities - check the Visa fee waiver for Indians, it will save you about INR 2000 as well as an hour at the immigration! Packing - make sure you pack a few extra pair of clothes, specially if you are going there during Songkaran - the equivalent of Holi, minus the colors! Time of the year - April Length of the itinerary: 9 days Itinerary Highlights:  Fly in to bangkok at the Don Mueang air port It's best to get a sim card for your phone once you land in the airport, coverage is great and plans offer ample 4G data Take the bus to Khaosan road from where you take the bus to Chumphon  Enjoy a ferry ride from Chumphon National park to Koh Phangan.  Once in Koh PHangan, it's best to make the Haadrin area as your base as it has a number of economic hostels as well as supermarkets to get your essentials. Besides, this is the venue of the famous full moon parties! You could spend time at the numerous beaches - coco hut beach is a fun place to hang out and play volley ball as well! Bikes and scooters are available to rent and explore the island. Day 3 was spent at a couple of pristine waterfalls - Paradise waterfalls and Phaeng waterfalls Ride a songtha or shared auto! And for those looking for Indian food, yes there is an indian restaurant - Om Ganesh! Day 4 was spent at Chaloklum which is a fishing village. Spend some time at the desolate beaches off Chaloklum. And spend time watching the beautiful sunsets at the beach! Get hyped for the FUll moon party - face painting, colorful clothes, psychadelic lights, EDM to pop to Bob Marley, Beer pong and what not.   The next day was spent exploring the Ang Thong marine islands and enjoy some water sports, mountain treks and beautiful views of the surrounding islands and the emarald blue lake! Make sure to partake in the Songkaran festival if you are in thailand during April 12-15, Thailand's popular water festival! Travel to the island of Koh Tao and enjoy Holi, thai style! Make sure you invest in a good water gun! Also a popular spot for getting a scuba  diving certification! Take the ferry to Chumphon and a train ride onward to Bangkok to end the #BeachTrail2017! Links: Part 0 http://www.katchutravels.com/thebeachtrail2017-chennai-koh-phangan-24-hours-first-day/ Part 1 http://www.katchutravels.com/thebeachtrail-part-1-settling-koh-phangan/ Part 2 http://www.katchutravels.com/thebeachtrail2017-part-ii-discovering-coco-beach-paradise-waterfall/ Part 3 http://www.katchutravels.com/thebeachtrail2017-part-iii-discovering-chaloklum-mae-haad-full-moon-party/ Part 4 http://www.katchutravels.com/thebeachtrail2017-part-iv-discovering-angthong-songkaran-koh-tao/ More about the Guest:  Twitter - @KatchuTravels Instagram - @Katchutravels Facebook - @Katchutravels #travel #TheMusafirStories #KatchuTravels #TheBeachTrail2017 #TheBeach #Movie #AlexGarland #Thailand #Kohphangan #Haadrin #FullMoon #Party #Angthong #Marine #NationalPark #Chaloklum #Bangkok #Songkaran #Festival #KohTao #ScubaDivingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Rajat Chakraborty from Trawellblogging.com. We speak at length about Rajat's latest ebook - "How to earn airline loyalty points for your next holiday".  Book Highlights: This one of a kind ebook explores into the unchartered territory (atleast in India) of airline loyalty points and miles programs. Rajat demystifies the concept of miles and breaks down the myths, facts and some common misconceptions. Highlights below Introduction to the Airline Loyalty Programs How to Join Up with the Various Airline Loyalty Programs How to Earn Miles How to Use Miles How to Make the Most out of Your Miles For practical examples and more details download Rajat's ebook " How to earn airline loyalty points for your next holiday" from Scribd for free!!!  Links: Rajat's blog: https://trawellblogging.com/ Rajat's ebook: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B0859WXBLG/ More about the Guest: https://trawellblogging.com/pack-ur-bags/  #India #Travel #TrawelBlogging #Book #Flight #Tickets #Cheap #Airline #Loyalty #Points #holiday #theMusafirStories See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Venkat Ganesh from the blog Indiabackpackmotorbike. Venkat talks to us at length about how everyone can travel if they really want to. About things he learnt after quitting his cushy job and travelling in India and about moving to Vietnam and teaching English. Venkat speaks about his stint as a teacher in Vietnam where he spent close to 3 years teaching. His pupils varied from a group of trained Vietnamese teachers to a group of rebellious teenagers to a group of cute 4-10 year old kids. So sit back and enjoy his stories from Hanoi. Today's destination: Vietnam Itinerary Highlights: Short stint in Thailand False start at Ho Chi minh city. In love with Hanoi, teaching and more Dealing with the language problems and the funny side to it Living in Vietnam and tryst with the Viatnamese cuisine Teachings gigs in Hanoi - teaching everyone from teachers to teens to kids Links: Link to Venkat's blog: http://www.indiabackpackmotorbike.com/ More about the Guest: http://www.indiabackpackmotorbike.com/#about Contact info: email: venkatganesh@indiabackpackmotorbike.com twitter - @Indiabckpckmoto Instagram - @Indiabackpackmotorbike #travel #motorbike # Vietnam #Hanoi #holiday #dream #Teaching #See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.