DATE: Saturday, 4th February 2012

TIME: 11am – 12pm

LOCATION: Kunzum Travel Cafe, T-49, GF, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi, India

Thank you to all who have expressed interest in volunteering with Kunzum Delhi 101 Photowalks!

THE IDEA: Those who are willing to share their knowledge of the city will lead specific walks, during which participants can stop to take photographs with any kind of camera.

Volunteer leaders will be responsible for -

-being available by phone and email to answer any queries leading up to the event

-keeping the group together and answering the phone during the walk to direct any latecomers

-choosing a pre-determined end point where participants can gather for food/chai/chatting

We will send one of our team members along on all walks for assistance.

It is important to keep in mind that these walks are open to all, with any kind of camera. Also, there will not be any kind of teaching or instruction, but if others are seeking guidance, sharing of tips is encouraged.

Participants will be encouraged to share photos on the Kunzum facebook page.

**No money will be exchanged for these walks – they are free for all**
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We will try to keep these walks to every Saturday from approximately 3pm – 5pm, unless it is a specific event that calls for another time.

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If you are interested in volunteering, please attend our Volunteer Planning Meeting this Saturday the 4th at 11am. We will have one hour to discuss and plan before our BookWag Book Club begins, so please try to be prompt. (And we’d love if you stay as we host Tara Books for a discussion on free-trade handmade publishing!)

At this meeting, we will confirm times/locations/volunteer leaders for five Saturdays, beginning on February 18th.

Please confirm attendance by responding to this facebook invitation: https://www.facebook.com/events/222174684538569/

THEME: Kunzum Hosts Raag Billy Bop!
DATE: Friday 3 Feb, 2012
TIME: 7:00 – 8:00pm
ADDRESS: Kunzum Travel Cafe, T-49, GF, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi, India
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/103476976443946/?context=create

To follow up on a very successful visit last September, we welcome back Phil Kaplan – guitarist, songwriter, Boston Underground favorite of long standing, founding member and creative engine of Men & Volts and other celebrated Boston groups.

A serious disciple of Indian classical music, he has worked many years at creating a very special fusion of East and West, and of American blues, jazz, rock, roots, Indian classical and folk.

Raag Billy Bop has just released their first Single, ‘Hang Glider b/w Little Helper,’ on Vivacious Int’l Records, which is already getting some airplay on Hit 95 New Delhi, and which is expected to intensify.

Please join us this Friday at 7pm, as Kunzum Travel Cafe hosts a special acoustic set of Raag Billy Bop!

Join us at Kunzum Travel Cafe, as author Shubhra Krishan dishes up questions from her new book, Thinner Dinner, for a fun, interactive quiz that will award an array of food-related Westland Books titles to the victors!

GRAND PRIZE: Dinner voucher for two at Spice Route at The Imperial, New Delhi!

Register early and reap the rewards – the first ten participants to both confirm attendance on facebook, AND to email confirmation to brandi@kunzum.com will receive a complimentary Westland Books publication at the event. Of course, you have to reach the event on time too.

Venue: Kunzum Travel Café, T-49, GF, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 110016.
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Teams may be 1-2 persons
Contact: +91.9650 702 777; brandi@kunzum.com

Shubhra Krishan is not a nutritionist. She’s just ravenous! In Thinner Dinner, she serves up a pot-pourri of delish dishes for you to enjoy night after night, without worrying about anything going to waist. Find inside dozens of slim-n-sexy recipes, tips and tricks to help you indulge your nightly longings for all the salty, spicy, crunchy, creamy and yes, sweet, stuff you love. Learn smart ways to shave off those calories, slice away the fat, and get rid of the guilt. Appetisingly illustrated with luscious pictures, corny illustrations and countless exciting ideas, Thinner Dinner is much more than a cookbook—it is an invitation to imagine and create meals that look good, taste great, and best of all, help you sleep easy and stay trim.

For more information on Thinner Dinner and regular updates from the world of books, follow Westland Books on Twitter and Facebook:
https://twitter.com/WestlandBooks
https://www.facebook.com/westlandbooks

The Kunzum Media Lab brings you a special workshop on HDR + Time Lapse Photography on October 23, 2011.

Download the workshop brochure by clicking here or continue reading below.

Learn to shoot like pros. Discover your creative self.  And produce images that only  you can. The Kunzum Media Lab will show you how.If you want to be a good photographer, you have to appreciate the art behind the imagery. Pick up some technical skills. And then allow your senses to create something only you can. Your photography has to be your own. Your identity has to be stamped on it. But we all need mentors to make it happen. The Kunzum Media Lab can play that role. With our unique approach to teaching you the art of photography.

We have designed a special workshop on the above mentioned topic. Sign up now, and wake up on Monday feeling very different when you hold your camera.

WHAT WILL BE COVERED IN THE WORKSHOP:

Time Lapse
Watching the 2 hour sunset and post sunset in just 7 seconds has its own magic. And yes, it can be done with a simple DSLR! Our eyes miss a lot of information in real time. Crunching the timeline enormously gives a fascinating perspective to the frame.

Want to understand better what we are talking about? Watch this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjRa0Envn_g

SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Quick theory, shooting technique and post-shoot editing techniques
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Tea / Coffee Break
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: On-field practical demo and shooting during sunset.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Those who are comfortable with at least basics of shooting. No age or other restrictions.

TUTOR: Ashish Dawar, Cinematographer and Photographer. For more about Ashish visit http://www.ashishdawar.com/contact.html and http://www.ashishdawar.com/fhotographia/fhotographia.html

WHAT YOU NEED TO CARRY: DSLR, Tripod (Small / Big), Laptop, Timer remote if you have one.

COST: Rs. 2,000 (does not include lunch). Sign up in groups of 3 or more: Rs. 1800 per person

VENUE: Kunzum Media Lab, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 110016

HOW TO REGISTER: The registration process is complete only after we have received the payment. The same can be made by cash or cheque favouring ‘TCP Media Pvt. Ltd.’ and sent to:

Kunzum Travel Café
T-49, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 110016
Mobile: +91.9650702777

The third edition of the Kunzum Travel Mag dated September 2011 is here. As before, it takes a refreshing approach to travel writing, it goes with you in your gadgets, and it’s FREE. Travels will never be same again.

How do you subscribe for FREE
CLICK HERE to access the Subscription Form. It is a simple, quick process and you will automatically receive the links to the current and back issues. And we will mail you the links for new issues as they are published. No payments, no credit card details required.

Or you can subscribe to the mag and read it online on Issuu. No downloads required. Click here to start.

Download Directly
Would you rather read the magazine first before you decide to subscribe? Sure – we have no problem. But we do recommend you subscribe to the same to ensure you don’t miss out on any future issues. Click on any of the following to download the format of your choice.

• PDF (to be read on any computer, tablets and other devices including mobile supporting a PDF reader)
• For iBooks on the iPad: Or for any e-reader supporting the .epub file format – COMING SOON
• For the Kindle – COMING SOON
• On Issuu: For online reading with the option to download.

Do write to us at mail@kunzum.com if you are facing any problems.

For more on the mag, visit http://kunzum.com/mag.

CONTENTS – ISSUE 3, SEPTEMBER 2011

• Jammu and Kashmir: A Journey to Kashmir, on Kunzum Route K11
• Delhi
  • Join the annual Dussehra Procession
  • Safdarjung’s Tomb
• Tamil Nadu: The Niligiri Mountain Railway: A Toy Train you must Ride
• Rajasthan: Jodhpur – Food, Bazaars, History – It all Happens Here
• Hotel Reviews
  • Castle Bera, Bera, Rajasthan
  • Rain Country Resorts, Wayanad, Kerala
  • The Blackbuck Lodge, Velavadar, Gujarat
  • Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh
• Stuff
  • Travel Bites
  • Don’t be Jet-Lagged this Holiday Season
  • Sketch Feature – Malaysia
  • Book Review: River Dog

Something more for you to consider:

* Our weekly e-newsletter: Click here to subscribe.
* Join our Fan Page on Facebook
* Follow us on Twitter
* The Kunzum Travel List: Great Holiday Ideas to choose from
* Sign up for photography and other creative workshops at the Kunzum Media Lab
* Buy digital or print images from the Kunzum Gallery

And do join us for a coffee at the Kunzum Travel Cafe in Hauz Khas Village in New Delhi, India.

If you are planning to go to Lahaul Spiti including Kaza and Tabo, here are some travel tips for you:

* Getting there: Hitch a ride with a Government or Army helicopter – not a real option. Only other way to go is by road via Manali or from the other side via Shimla and Kinnaur. Roads are closed in winters. You can takes buses too if you don’t have your own car or taxi.

* Climate: Biting cold from November to March with temperatures falling many degrees below normal. Everything is frozen over. The months of June to August are pleasantly warm, while it is comfortably cold during the other months. It is always cold at higher altitudes. Make sure you carry warm clothes at all times. Very little precipitation in this rain shadow area.

* Best time to go: June to early-October when roads are open, but dates vary every year. Catch the autumn colours in October and munch apples fresh from the trees. No vehicular movement is possible the rest of the year via Manali and Kunzum Pass. Roads are open longer when coming via Shimla but you can only go up to Kaza.

* Local transport: Limited options of buses and taxis.

* Connectivity: Only state-run BSNL mobiles work in Tabo and Kaza, and service is erratic. Internet access is limited and slow.

* Vehicles to use: It is best to use SUVs – these need not be 4-wheel powered. But people do use sedans too, but not recommended considering road conditions.

* Permits: Foreigners require Inner Line Permits.

* Places to stay: Not many options. Your best bet are Banjara Camps (http://www.banjaracamps.com) with quality properties in Tabo and Kaza. Kaza has some other hotels too. Budget guest houses and homestays are available too, including at some of the villages. You can also book yourself into the Key or Tabo monasteries with room rates as low as Rs. 200 a night. Pitch tent. Try the caves if you nothing else works.

* Altitude Sickness can affect even the fittest of all. Basic precautions: (a) Keep sipping water regularly, preferably warm. Keep in flasks, or stops at roadside eateries to request them to warm it for you. (b) Cover your head and ears with something warm when it is cold and windy (c) Don’t push yourself physically too much (d) Don’t stay at high altitude passes for too long – 30 minutes maximum (e) Go easy on yourself for the initial 1-2 days, you should be ok after that.

Useful Links

* Kunzum Route K13 – A Driving Guide: http://kunzum.com/2010/11/03/driving-guide-delhi-to-lahaul-spiti-kaza-and-tabo-nako-sangla-thanedar-and-back
* What to carry with you when you drive in this terrain: http://kunzum.com/2009/06/19/what-to-carry-with-you-when-you-drive-to-the-mountains
* Planning for fuel in the mountains: http://kunzum.com/2008/06/11/planning-for-fuel-in-the-mountains

Have you subscribed to the new Kunzum Travel Mag for FREE? Click here to do so.

Something more for you to consider:
* Our weekly e-newsletter: Click here to subscribe.
* Join our Fan Page on Facebook
* Follow us on Twitter
* Buy digital or print images from the Kunzum Gallery

And do join us for a coffee at the Kunzum Travel Cafe in Hauz Khas Village in New Delhi, India.

Photography workshop by Canon along with Nature wanderers.

Go Wild with Canon and Nature Wanderers – Calendar 2010-2011
Does nature and wildlife photography fascinate you? Are you looking for a platform to learn from and network with nature photographers? Do you shoot great pictures and want to showcase your skills to the world?

Canon along with Nature Wanderers brings to you a series of exciting photography cum nature workshops that give you the opportunity to explore and shoot the unique wilderness of India. Be a part of the Go Wild series that comprise FOUR highly informative and thrilling workshops and of-course CANON WILD CLICKS – Edition II (India’s only Live photography contest) – that would test your skills as a photographer in defined situations in the wild.

Just pick and choose your preferred event, block your calendar and avail early registration discounts!

The ‘Go Wild’ Calendar

17th July 2010
Workshop on post-processing of wildlife and nature shots using
Canon DPP and Photoshop in Delhi
Registration fee – INR 2000

21-23 October, 2010
Go Wild Workshop in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (2 nights 3 days)
Normal Registration – INR 9000
Early Registration – INR 8500

19-22 November, 2010
Go Wild Workshop in Corbett National Park – Dhikala zone (3 nights,  4 days)
Normal Registration – INR 17000
Early Registration – INR 15300

26-29 January, 2011
Canon Wild Clicks – Edition II in Ranthambore National Park (India’s only LIVE photography contest – 3 nights 4 days)
Normal Registration – INR 20000
Early Registration – INR 18000

19-23 February, 2011
Go Wild Workshop in Kaziranga National Park (4 nights 5 day)
Normal Registration – INR 20000
Early Registration – INR 18000

April, 2011 (date to be announced)
Go Wild Workshop in Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks (4 nights, 5 days)
Normal Registration INR 25000
Early Registration INR 22500
Cost inclusive of workshop registration, accommodation in luxury resorts across all national parks, all meals, gypsy safaris, guide and naturalists fees, elephant safari (if applicable), park entry fees, pick and drop, inter-park transfers in case 2 destinations are covered.

Above cost is for Indian nationals. Participants can pay 50% of the fees as booking advance and the remaining 50% prior to departure for a particular event. Registration fees is non-refundable.

Event Snapshots

• Workshops to include photography tips
• Sessions on knowing your camera
• Wildlife film shows
• Interactions with ace naturalists, environmentalists and photographers
• Tiger workshops – learn about tiger behaviour from our experts
• Events open for non-Canon users
• Network & Learn – Ongoing discussions with fellow photographers
• Test Canon equipments by using our demo Canon DSLR bodies and lenses
• Touch and Feel of the dream Canon equipments (high end bodies and lenses)
• Special discounts on Canon equipments for workshop participants
• NW-Canon events are covered by leading media groups (including photography magazines) and participant pictures are displayed in print & electronic media

Early registration ends on August 31, 2010

For queries, please contact: info@naturewanderers.com or call +91 9871367945 / +91 9871384780

Our Partners

• Earth Matters Foundation

• Kunzum – India’s leading travel blog

• Infinity Group of Resorts

View event details… http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1361/4729279331_e3c8e06162_b.jpg

Would you like to receive Kunzum’s weekly e-newsletter? Click here to subscribe. Or join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

The Himalayan Marmot is the new mascot for Kunzum - Give it a name and win a book

The Himalayan Marmot is the new mascot for Kunzum.com.  Do you like him? But we want to give this cuddly mammal from the squirrel family a name. He has feelings too – and would like an identity of his own. Can you suggest one?

If you do, and we select it, you get to win a copy of Ajay Jain’s book, Postcards from Ladakh. Delivered anywhere in India where courier services work.

All answers must be left in the comments form only. And the competition is open till we find a suitable name. The early bird gets the book. Your time starts now!

Kunzum Gallery now has a bricks and mortar presence in Delhi’s fashion district of Hauz Khas Village.

The gallery is currently displaying a collection of Ajay Jain’s travel photographs from Ladakh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Prices start from a modest Rs. 750 and go up to Rs. 25,000 for select limited edition prints. If you are planning any festive gifting, or want to add something to your home or office, check out the gallery for many attractive options. You can even preview the collection here.

Address: T-49, GF, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 110 016, India
Timings: Monday – Saturday, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Call +91.99100 44476 / +91.9650 702 777 for further information, directions or to visit at hours other than mentioned above.

This post has been updated and you may read the new one by clicking here.

There are many ways to reach Leh from Delhi, but the most enjoyable way is to do so by road. If you can drive the distance of about 1075 kilometers, taking at least 3-4 days, it is sure to be an experience you will cherish for life. And try to drive yourself; there is a different thrill to it than being driven by someone else.

I did so myself in July 2008, and the journey came with some learnings as it has its own challenges. Here is a practical plan you could follow to get from Delhi to Leh:

Day 1:
Leave for Kullu or Manali. It will take about 12 hours to cover the 550 km to Kullu via Ambala, Chandigarh, Roopnagar (Ropar), Bilaspur and Mandi. You could carry on for another 50 km to Manali. A night halt in either of these towns is fine.

Day 2:
Head for Jispa, located about 145 km from Manali via Rohtang Pass. The 51 km drive from Manali to Rohtang can take about three hours; it is a steep ascent, the road quality is below par and traffic can halt at places due to landslides or broken down vehicles. Continue a further 65 km to Keylong, but don’t forget to tank up at Tandi (about 9 km before Keylong) as the next fuel station is only 30 km before Leh. (It is always a good idea to carry some extra fuel in a jerry can in case Tandi is closed or out of fuel, or you decide to take some detours). About 16 km from Rohtang, also watch out for a junction where you keep left; the right turn will take you to Lahaul and Spiti Valley. From Rohtang, the drive to Jispa can take about three hours. But do provision for a lunch break too; your options are either the shacks along the way or some restaurants in hotels in Keylong.

Jispa, located at about 10,890 feet, is a strongly recommended stop to get acclimatized to the subsequent higher altitude regions you would be staying at in Ladakh. You may even be advised to spend two nights here to get better acclimatized, but the jury will be out on this one for a long time as altitude sickness follows few rules and trends; the weakest looking of the pack might sail through, while the highly experienced travellers may just take ill anytime.

Day 3
Now this is the tricky part: Do you make a run for Leh, take a night halt at Sarchu about 87 km from Jispa or camp somewhere between Sarchu and Leh? Here are some points to consider:

• At about 14,200 feet altitude, Sarchu is more acclimatization than you may need. It is very cold here, with strong windy conditions giving even camp managers who reside there constant headaches. Accommodation is all tented, and toilets are not attached, and it is not a cheerful thought walking out in the middle of the night with howling winds around. But Sarchu is also the only place between Jispa and Leh where you can organized accommodation; your only other option is to pitch tent on the way or crash at any of the shacks on the way who provide a bed for Rs. 50.
• You can make a run for Leh from Jispa, about 325 km away. It should take you about 11 hours but here is a warning: You may not want to be driving in the dark should you get delayed due to traffic snarls, road blocks, breakdowns or any other reason. And the drive from Jispa to Leh is worth stopping many times over to admire the natural features as well as to take pictures. Why would you want to keep moving when the whole idea of a road trip to Leh was to enjoy the drive?

I personally fell ill at Sarchu, and had a tough night with its symptoms. The next day too was a difficult time driving, and it was only when I received medical attention and a dose of oxygen from an Army doctor at Pang on the way to Leh did I feel normal.

What would I do in the future and suggest you do too? Stay at Jispa, and make a very early start (say at 5:00 am) and make a run for Leh. Make sure you get a full night’s sleep to be well rested for the long drive ahead. It may be safe to assume that the chances of falling ill, even when going through high altitude areas, are low as long as you keep moving. Starting early will give you a cushion for delays and you can still make it to Leh while there is daylight. Even if night falls, but if you are within 60-70 km of Leh, it is all right as the terrain is mostly flat and more densely populated (in case you need assistance).

Day 4
You need this day in case you take a night halt between Jispa and Leh. Or if you had stayed at Jispa for two nights.

Going to Tso Moriri before Leh
If you intend going to Tso Moriri en route to Leh, it is a long drive from Jispa and a night halt in Sarchu may be required. But remember, Tso Moriri is at an even higher altitude than Sarchu and you may feel ill as some travellers do. Do take your precautions.

Some more points to consider

• All driving times mentioned above are without a provision for stopping to take photographs.
• When you are short of time, like when you have a full day drive planned, it may be a good idea to carry some food packed at the last hotel you stayed in. You will then not waste time looking for food, and be able to use that saved time for photographs or to make up for lost ground in case of unforeseen delays.

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Boys will be boys, even when they are being groomed to be Buddhist Lamas. When I started taking pictures of some young Lamas at the Karsha Monastery located near the town of Padum in the Zanskar Valley (in the Ladakh region of the Indian Himalayan state of Jammu & Kashmir), not only did they start posing specially for the camera, they also started jostling to be in the camera frame exclusively. It led to a bit of friendly bashing, adding to the fun of the afternoon while I was there. Boys will remain boys.

Enjoy the images by clicking here. If you wish to order any prints, or get the rights for any of these images, write to me at ajay@ajayjain.com. These are all available in high resolution if need be.

These two towns are located in the north Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, and are popular for being home to the Dalai Lama and his Tibetan Government in exile.

This video will take you through some of the images of the place.

This is a video of images taken at Chandni Chowk, the oldest market in Delhi, and created by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan who also built the Taj Mahal. I would have liked to add more text to it but shall do so in another version.

If you enjoyed reading the post on the trek to Triund from Mcleodganj in the Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, (click here if you missed it), then you can enjoy the video below to experience it visually for yourself.