Ever since I can remember, walking has been my expression for happiness, curiosity and departure. Growing up amidst the beautiful hills of Shillong, in Northeast India, walking wasn’t as therapeutic as it is today. It was the only way of getting around the town; we used to walk to college, to weekend gatherings, to reluctant…
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My travel gear is an important aspect of all my travels. It has to be simple, ready for mountain weather and durable, apart from being resourceful. Whether it be a rucksack, a pair of shoes, walking stick, jackets, travel towel or even my headlight, I invest time and money in it. I have been using…
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Sometimes I wonder if heaven is real. And then I witness the most incredible sight ever. I find myself taking shelter from snowfall under a grand oak tree somewhere in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. I am hiking to Bedni and Ali bugyal from a small village called Kuling, via Dedina. My companions are my elderly, experienced…
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Have you read about the marshmallow test for kids? It is psychological test done by a Stanford professor back in the 1960s. He welcomes nursery school children in a room one-by-one and tests them for grit and self control. He puts a marshmallow or a sweet treat in front of each child and gives them…
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It is difficult to escape their charm. Every time I travel to Uttarakhand, the loveliness of the people I meet seem to only increase. I recently wrote about the women who I met in Kilmora and Chirag and as a continuing part of my conversations with the people of Uttarakhand, I’d like you to meet two…
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Two of my three travels to Uttarakhand, last year, introduced me to some of the most enthusiastically independent women I have met. The first bevy was in Chirag (Central Himalayan Rural Action Group) in Kasiyalekh. Chirag is a social enterprise that works with local communities by diversifying and creating various livelihood opportunities. In Chirag, I…
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