A Guide to Kandaghat, Himachal Pradesh

Kandaghat is a small highway town, about 30 kilometres ahead of Shimla when travelling from Delhi or Chandigarh. I had crossed it many times on my way and back from the capital of Himachal Pradesh. But not until I won the Dream Trails contest with Club Mahindra did I get a chance to explore and stay here….

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A Summer Slowdown in Old Manali

Manali is always bustling with activities and things to do. I have been to this beautiful Himachali town many times and my favourite trip continues to be the one in which I had no plans and relaxed every day. Since it is one of the most sought-after destinations in India, it may seem tough not…

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People of Kumaon, Uttarakhand (Part 2)

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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The Kilmora Women of Kumaon, Uttarakhand

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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Climbing the Mountain Meadows

Last month, I spent a good couple of weeks in Himachal Pradesh. On one of the mornings, we hiked up to an ancient temple called Giri Ganga and stopped by the neighbouring meadows for lunch. I was with my homestay’s host and a couple of his friends. The four of lunch sat on the open…

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Memories of the Unfamiliar Land

Is it possible to have memories about a place we have never been to? As I dwell deeper into this question, I know that there are more places that make me feel like this. These memories or in most cases, visual reveries formulate themselves from the existing information I have. This information is either stories I’ve heard…

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