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Are you planning to visit Ladakh and drive to its various attractions? Here is a guide based on my personal journeys in Ladakh over the last two seasons. Before you continue, you may want to read these posts:
* A suggested itinerary for Ladakh
* What to pack when driving in the mountains
* There are many other posts on Ladakh – click here to read
* Nature calling in Ladakh? Some handy tips
* You may want to purchase my book, Postcards from Ladakh [continue reading…]
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Children using the train in Janakpur in Nepal as their 'playground.' Check out the state of the roof.
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There are few trains in the world to match this. It starts in Janakpur in Nepal and goes across the border to the Indian town of Jaynagar, 28 km (17 miles) away. Each leg is a over three hours long; in fact, there are tow trains that simultaneously run in either direction. Cutting across agricultural landscapes in the Terai region along the foothills of the Himalayas.
I stopped by briefly in Janakpur, the birthplace of Hindu God Ram’s wife Sita, to have a look at this train as a part of the Great Himalayan Drive. Wish I had more time to explore this town and take a train ride, but had to move on. But not before I got a chance to look at the train (or what is left of it – the photos will show what I mean) and interacting with some kids who use the train as a playground. And a modeling studio when photographers like me pop by.
So go ahead and enjoy these images – I have promised myself a return to this city to do the ride.
This trip was sponsored by TripAdvisor.in and Yatra.com.
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Members of the Sumi Tribe of Nagaland performing at the Hornbill Festival
This image of Sumi tribals was taken at the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland that takes place from December 1-7 every year. The Sumis are one of the 16 recognised tribes of Nagaland.
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The map below is the best depiction of foods of India that I have ever seen; check it out for a mouth watering journey. Click on the map for a larger view.
Full Disclosure: The map has not been created by me, or anyone I know for that matter. It came to me as an email forward, and it seems it has been going around in cyberspace for a while. There is no attribution, and I am assuming it is copyright free – or at least the creator will not mind it being shown like this. Would be more than happy to attribute the original source if I know it.
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Events like the Pushkar Camel Fair are also a time to display special skills – with some bravado thrown in. Take the acrobats and an 11-year old girl dancer, Manjari.
While the acrobats were getting into position, the young girl was introduced as an exponent of Ghoomar, a traditional Rajasthani dance. Her claim to fame according to the show host? She is capable of taking 2,000 revolutions while dancing when normal people would tire after just a few. And off she went…1, 2, 3…by 25 she was looking like she would fall under the harsh sunlight. [continue reading…]
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Camel racing is a popular sport in rural Rajasthan, and it was only fitting to include the event at the Pushkar Camel Fair. However, dollops of amateurism was added to the event when foreign tourists were invited to race the camels. Of course, they could scarcely be expected to make these species walk, let alone run. They were thus allowed a local to ride pillion and be the actual ‘driver.’ [continue reading…]
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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNmSMFyoPN0[/youtube]
Photographs by Kahini Ghosh Mehta & Shivang Mehta – wildlife photographers who run a camp in Corbett National Park and Rishikesh. Contact them at www.naturewanderers.com
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By Shivang Mehta and Kahini Ghosh Mehta
Deep inside the heavily wooded forest of Corbett National Park rests a Machaan that gives shelter to hundreds of photographers, naturalists and tourists visiting Corbett every year. Approximately 30 feet in height, this old machaan gives a panoramic view of the picturesque Dhikala grasslands and the Ramganga river that supports a multitude of life forms in Corbett National Park. “The forest is always buzzing with activity,” I realized this when I spent my 3 hours on this watchtower for the first time in early 2003. Since then the watchtower has been my popular hotspot and has played an instrumental role in helping me witness some of my most memorable wild moments in Corbett National Park. [continue reading…]
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Tusker Taking A Mud Bath in Corbett
Many a times, people wonder and debate on the most feared animal in the forests of India. We have been asked this question on multiple occasions and the answer is difficult because when in the mild in addition to the big predators there are zillions of life threatening living bodies that one should fear. A lot of people believe that a confrontation with a big cat like a tiger or a leopard can be a nerve-chilling experience. That’s definitely true to a certain extent but the king of the Indian forests – the tiger – is not a wanton killer. It attacks in its defense only when it is provoked and in a lot of cases we have seen that a tiger can be the most harmless predator and gives a damn about your presence. When given his space, he can offer you some of the most wonderful moments of your life giving you the opportunity to get upclose with him and witness his glory. [continue reading…]
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To be born in the lap of nature is a blessing of God for me. People frequently ask me about my childhood experiences in the wild and are very curious to know why I chose wildlife as a field of study? Going down the memory lanes, I recall that my earliest association with wilderness started at my birthplace Chhindwara – a small town in Madhya Pradesh, India. I used to roam in and around the dense and wild forests of the buffer zone of what is popularly known as the Pench Tiger Reserve.
Who can forget Mowgli, the pint-sized child and his adventures with Sher Khan and Bagheera of Rudyard Kipling’s best-seller Jungle Book. Teaming with exotic wildlife, this is the land that inspired Kipling to visualise his most famous work. [continue reading…]
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The mesmerising view of the majestic Himalayas, the mysterious forests flooded with pine, deodhar and saal trees, a diverse variety of flora and fauna, a unique conglomeration of picturesque landscapes and a culture and history full of tales of bravery – this is what Kumaon has been offering to tourists from across the globe for centuries. Nestling in the foothills of the Himalayas, Kumaon is located in Uttrakhand – the northern hill province of India with its headquarters in Nainital.
The wilderness of Kumaon has continued to fascinate visitors since time immemorial but wild Kumaon actually came into the limelight because of Kumaon’s favourite son – the man who was known to the locals as the Gora Sadhu for his philanthropic work in the region and who thrilled the world with his famous hunting stories where he described his chilling experiences in the forests of Kumaon. The world knows him as Jim Corbett – the famous hunter who turned into a conservationalist and played an instrumental in bringing Kumaon on the world tourism map. His writings that are captured in a series of best selling books like the Maneaters of Kumaon, My India and Jungle Lore give a perfect depiction of the inimitable wilderness, culture and traditions of this region. [continue reading…]
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The snout of the Siachen Glacier
It may seem unfair to have a war zone like the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh. Both Pakistan and India spend hundreds of millions dollars every year and lose any number of lives facing off for what may seem like an inconsequential mass of ice. But then who said conflicts are about fairness and being reasonable?
When a place is as well known as Siachen, especially for reasons of war, you approach it with mixed expectations. How does a zone always in a state of battle preparedness look like? What is the body language and state of mind of soldiers in these situations? What do they make of civilians out on a ‘picnic,’ even if they are guests of a senior colleague?
Under normal circumstances, one is not allowed within about fifty kilometers of this area unless you have Army clearance. The region had seen little or no exchange of fire over the past couple of years – I may not have been able to make a visit had it been otherwise. [continue reading…]
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Mohammed Ali at his shack at Appati village near Kargil in Ladakh
Coming down the 13202 feet high Hambotingla Pass on the way from Alchi to Kargil, I stopped for tea at a shack in the village of Appati in the setting sun around six in the evening. A warm cuppa is just what is needed after a day of driving as the temperature starts dropping.
Owned by teenager Mohammed Ali, he runs his outlet all year round even when temperatures dip many degrees below freezing. His clientele includes the residents of the village located a on the mountain at a level higher than that of the highway, as well as Army personnel who pass through this area regularly. [continue reading…]
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The images here were taken at the 13202 feet high Hambotingla Pass on the way from Alchi to Kargil at around half past five in the evening shortly before the sun set. Enjoy.
Click on any of the images for a larger view. Click here to see more images
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A recent visit to Rajasthan had me become a fan of the state. It has zoomed to my second preferred travel destination – nothing on this planet is likely to beat the Himalayas. But I would love to discover places to see this change too. Here are ten reasons why you should plan to holiday in Rajasthan: [continue reading…]
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Few places would lay out the red carpet as Shoja would, as you drive on a 38 kilometer long path lined with apple orchards from Aut to your destination. What awaits is a place that can certainly be regarded as one of those tucked away wonders travellers may miss out on till someone tells them about it.
Off the highway leading to Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, Shoja can be as quiet and picturesque as a writer or artist may wish for, or as adventure filled as any adrenalin overdosed visitor may want it to be. A part of the Great Himalayan National Park, it is just the setting to take walks in the woods and be very close to all the diversity nature has to offer. [continue reading…]
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Setting Sun at the Sam Dunes near Jaisalmer
This image was taken at the Sam (pronounced some) Dunes near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. See the complete collection on Flickr.
Sam is located about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Jaisalmer and is quite a popular destination for its sand dunes. Over two dozen camps have come up here offering hotel-style accommodation to tourists in tents and huts complete with attached baths, entertainment and meals. [continue reading…]
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Anyone who has spent time in India knows street dogs are everywhere. It may be the cows on streets that catch the fancy of those from outside India, but dogs are much more ubiquitous than the bovine species.
When I reached Bikaner two days back, I was advised against venturing out on foot late at night as the dogs can turn ferocious, and bite people. Who said barking dogs don’t bite? In Bikaner, the dogs don’t seem to believe in this at least. [continue reading…]
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If you are in India, and miss those highways where you can rev up those fancy cars of yours, head out to Bikaner.
It is one of those great drives where you can actually cover the Delhi – Bikaner distance of about 530 kilometers (330 miles) in seven hours which I did (plus an additional one hour coffee break). Except for certain stretches between Kotputli and Sikar, the roads are almost as good as any in the world. Not just your Ferraris, even your normal Honda or Suzuki sedans will feel like mean machines. [continue reading…]
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I have hit the road in Rajasthan on January 9, 2009 and expect to be driving around for a 3-week period.
The itinerary covers Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Mount Abu, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Boondi, Pushkar as well as surrounding areas. This is the plan at least, and may be modified as I go along.
I will be posting my experiences, anecdotes and pictures whenever I can from the trip itself – and more when I am back.
Keep watching the space on Kunzum.
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