If you’ve ever heard of Kerala, you’re already aware of Munnar. The hype is such that you’ll see it everywhere on YouTube, Instagram, and blogs. But, as somebody who’s been there at least five times, I can confidently tell you that there are better places than Munnar that deserve more attention. That’s where places like Marayoor and Kanthalloor come in. If you want to experience Munnar without the crowd, look no further. And it’s not just fewer crowds. There are plenty of experiences in Marayoor-Kanthalloor that you won’t get anywhere…

The year is 1616. Denmark sets their eyes on Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) to establish the Danish East India Company. In late January 1619, Ronald Crappé, the director general of the company, lands in Ceylon. The Kingdom of Kandy (a monarchy in Ceylon) agrees to help Crappé set up the company, provided he overthrows the existing Portuguese rule in Ceylon. However, as Crappe goes to attack the Portuguese, they capture and imprison him. Luckily for Crappé, he had contacts in various Indian kingdoms, including the king of Thanjavur (in modern-day…

My visit to Badami was an accident. I was planning a trip to Hampi. While searching for recommendations on Google, I saw a pattern. I received suggestions for Badami while reading blogs about Hampi. Out of curiosity, I navigated to Google Images and typed Badami. (As a traveller, I love visualizing my destination before I plan anything.) Half an hour later, I was intrigued. I was sold. I knew I had to visit Badami one day. And so I did. Long story short, it exceeded my expectations. Badami, like Hampi,…

Would you like to treat yourself to the freshest strawberries in Kerala, dream-like stays near Munnar and unexplored trekking routes in the Western Ghats, all at once? Look no further than Vattavada. Unknown to many travellers, Vattavada is a quaint agricultural village neighbouring Munnar in Kerala. It is known as the ‘vegetable capital of Kerala’ as it produces a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables like strawberries, butter beans, and the famous Vattavada garlic, known for its unique medicinal properties. Moreover, if you’re an adventure lover who likes offbeat places,…

She is a 50-year-old professor from Delhi University who loves to hike the mountains occasionally to keep herself fit and take a break from life. She has been trekking the remotest regions in the Himalayas since the 1990s, even before it became a cool activity in India. He is a professional poker player who has been making money online and backpacking across India since 2012. He never documents his experiences because he loves to keep them private. Solo travel in India is a way of life for him. She had…

Although North India is famous for its hill stations all across India, did you know that the tag of ‘Princess of Hill Stations’ belongs to a hill station in South India? Established in 1845 as a summer retreat by British bureaucrats and Christain missionaries, this title belongs to Kodaikanal. Famous for homemade chocolates and eucalyptus oil, Kodaikanal is a popular hill station in South India known for its cool weather and natural sceneries. Kodaikanal, meaning “The Gift of the Forest”, attracts tourists from all across India for its lakes, valleys,…

With almost 80% of forest cover, Meghalaya is among the few states in India that boasts of an abundance of caves, waterfalls, lakes, canyons and valleys. And that’s not it. It is home to the world’s wettest place, Asia’s cleanest village and unique living root bridges not found elsewhere. In short, if you’re a nature lover like me, you must visit Meghalaya at least once in your life because you’ll be blown away by the variety of natural sceneries that it offers.  Every corner of Meghalaya offers something unique to…

When you think about Andaman and Nicobar Islands, clean beaches, clear blue skies and scuba diving are some of the things that may come to your mind. But did you also know that Andaman had an essential role to play in India’s freedom struggle against the British, has some of the oldest tribes in the world and holds India’s only active volcano? Well, this is just the tip of the iceberg as Andaman offers so much more than what you read online. These are the experiences I want to take…

Did you know that Hampi was once the richest city in India with marvellous temples, trading markets and massive fortifications? It used to be one of the largest cities in the world and the capital of the Vijayanagara empire in the 14th century. However, in 1565, the Deccan Muslim rulers destroyed the city and looted its wealth leading to the fall of the Vijayanagara empire. What remains now is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world’s largest ‘open-air’ museum. Huge boulders and archaeological ruins with a rich history mark…

What is common between Rabindranath Tagore, Subhash Chandra Bose and Rudyard Kipling? All of them had a common love for the peaceful climate and pleasant atmosphere of Dalhousie and spend quite some time here when it was under the control of the British empire. While Dalhousie has changed a lot since then, it still exudes an old-world charm with Victorian-style mansions surrounded by deodar and pine forests and the snow-capped Himalayas in the background.  It is also home to the mini ‘Switzerland of India’, has a thriving Tibetan culture and…