“Dhaara jo gaana” said Amma, whose eyes sparkled with love. Her face wore a broad smile as she readied cups of chai for us. Amma was inviting us to accompany her for a journey to ‘Dhaar’ in the upper mountains with her small cattle family. Amma was to stay at Continue Reading
The legend of the mystical Dzi.
Far away in the mountains of Ladakh, the prayer flags fluttered from a distance, while I indulged in many a Gur Gur cha’s listening to this 90 year old grandmother spin mystical tales for me, as her prayer wheel chanted ‘Om mani padme hum’ in circles. The Ladakhis, Tibetans and Continue Reading
On the road towards light with a million fireflies
It was a beautiful rainy Saturday morning when I left with my bag and some sandwiches for munching on the way. The clouds were in a mood to shower the earth and its beings. The touch of rain elevated from whispers to forte. It was a rainy day and while Continue Reading
Zen on the road
I am just a woman who loves to travel. Travel to me is life. My solo journeys have been an accumulation of blessings and lessons that I will cherish all my life. Although solo is about setting out alone, the beauty is that in this universe, no one is really alone. Continue Reading
Jogini falls: Of heavenly waters and beyond
The Sky colours itself in turquoise; the clouds arrange themselves in their whitest best and soul-stirring patterns. The traditional Khat-khuni houses seemingly sprout amongst the greens adorning the valley. The recurring sounds of temple bells play to match the magnificent sight. A whiff of fresh German bakery air enthralls your senses. Continue Reading
Lug Valley: Of love and sunshine
Here’s a tale of love from the ancient farmlands of Lug Valley in the north-west of Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. In the mustard fields, forests and traditional ‘Kath-khuni’ houses of the last village Telang; I was welcomed by yet another tale of yore. With a rosy blush on their cheeks, the locals Continue Reading
McLeod Ganj: The heart of art in the Himalayas
As the morning sets in, cottony white clouds arrange themselves against blue skies, forming shapes and faces. The wind carries the sound of gongs from a distance, as the Lung tas strung up high on hills flutter in glory. The chants of ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ take over the monastery Continue Reading
The oiled rocks of Jispa
Here’s a tale to chill your bones, from the cold deserts of Jispa, Himachal Pradesh. I had set out to explore the villages enroute Baralacha, and I was accompanied by this local storyteller. He suggested that I keep my eyes fixed on the right side of the stretch leading me Continue Reading
The legend of Khopdi.
Here’s a tale from 21 Gata loops taking you to an altitude of 15, 302 ft on the Manali-Leh higway. It’s about a water-loving, beedi-smoking ghost who protects the drivers and travellers on this hairpin stretch of sandstone dunes and narrow twisty roads. As I looped through this winding stretch, Continue Reading